After their hard fought draw last week KS Cougars made the journey to Plymouth last Wednesday to play top of the league Mini M’s, the mixed team of Marjons Sports College in Plymouth.

Starting well and looking to push for a result KS gave no quarter and soon took the game to Mini M’s, passing well and beginning to look dangerous on the attack with Helen Symons in particular causing the Mini m’s defence trouble. The Marjons side created several chances but were denied each time by Tony Paul and the solid KS defence.

After five minutes of good build up play KS opened up down the right with Sam Holdsworth releasing Chris Guard on the break. Guard turned inside and crossed to Ash Wyeth who sent the keeper the wrong way and slipped his shot inside the near post.

Captain Mikey Dennis, Chloe Harvey and Sarah Cullen held firm in the midfield and Eric Stidston made his debut as KS used rolling substitutions to good advantage in keeping fresh legs on the field and maintaining the pressure.

Sensing they had the Mini M’s on the back foot KS pushed on and after another good spell of pressure had won several short corners, with Helen Symons on great form up front. Lou Read stepped up from the back to deliver a crisp strike at goal from another short corner routine, after her initial shot was saved she pounced onto the rebound and hit a rising shot at goal where Ash Wyeth was on hand to deflect in through the covering defender for his second goal of the match.

Starting the second half with a 2-0 lead KS were immediately put under pressure from Mini M’s who quickly scored a breakway goal from the restart. The second half continued with both sides making good chances and battling hard in the midfield, Bex Darke proving more than a match for her opposite number. After a strong run down the right side Mini M’s managed to muddle a ball through to their centre forward in the D who fired home from close range to level the score at 2-2.

Knowing that the game was theirs for the taking KS upped the pace and began to attack Mini M’s with every opportunity. Read, Squires & Jones provided the foundation and allowed play to break through Darke, Dennis and Nic Bowes down the middle, their distribution to the wings made for great sweeping play to which Mini M’s had no answer.

Closing in for the kill the Cougars broke strongly five minutes before time and an excellent passing move saw them tear apart the Mini M’s midfield with Symons and Guard linking well to find Holdsworth in the D, leaving him to fire safely home past the stranded Mini M’s keeper to make it 3-2.