Newquay 1,

KS Cougars 3

Last weekend the Cougars made a trip down to Cornwall for their first league game of 2016.

With the sun shining, the Cougars were ­looking to brighten their prospects by increasing the gap with Newquay, being just a point behind them in the league.

Newquay started strongly, which ­eventually led to a well-worked goal. However, this was just the spark KS needed to get ­themselves into gear and into the match.

Laura Kerly came close to levelling the score after she broke into the D and smashed a shot, only for it to be saved by the opposing ’keeper. Later on Helen Symons drove down the left-hand side and delivered a peach of a cross to the back post, with Sarah Budgen ­narrowly missing with a great lunge.

A special mention to Lottie Sutherland, who made her first appearance for the Cougars, coming on as a half on the forward line.

Newquay were not giving up, though, and had several breaks, but Fi Wadey and Rachel Roberts held firm at the back.

After some constructive play the Cougars won a short corner. A routine from the training ground saw a Lou Read piledriver go inches wide.

It wasn’t until the end of the half that the Cougars drew level. Bex Darke put in a great raised ball across goal, finding Budgen cocked and loaded: her volley was cleared off the line illegally by an opposition defender, with a penalty stroke awarded. Helen Symons stepped up to the plate to finish ­sublimely into the side netting, giving the ’keeper no chance.

KS started the second half with great tempo, with Gemma Sammuel putting in a sterling performance up on the forward line, causing the opposition all sorts of problems. Emily Read was also working hard, linking up well down the right-hand side.

Captain Chloe Harvey was firing it up. She picked up a loose ball in midfield and made a majestic run through the opposition defence to challenge the ’keeper. She came close, but the ’keeper pulled off a great save, only for the rebound to find Laura Kerly at top D, who played a delightful reverse stick shot, lifting it over the ’keeper and into the back of the net to give KS the lead.

Newquay were threatening to equalise, but were denied by some great channelling from Lou Read to the formidable Fi Wadey, who also made a goal-line clearance to keep the Cougars ahead.

The game was ­hanging in the balance, with both teams ­battling hard into another key moment, when ’keeper Claire Jones made a fantastic clearance, keeping the ball out of reach of the pressing opposition and protecting the one-goal margin.

KS kept up the fight and got their reward after some great initiative from Gemma Samuel, who took a quick side-line ball to Symons. Using the head start Symons scanned and slipped through a great pass to Harvey, who took the ball forward, finding Budgen in the D.

Budgen’s shot was saved by the ’keeper, only for the pouncing Kerly to once again lift the ball in on her reverse from close range.

A great team goal and fully deserved, ­giving the Cougars a two-goal advantage going into the last 10 minutes of the game.

Even as legs were starting to tire, KS kept going until the end, seeing the game out and making a great start to 2016.

Women of the match was Gemma Sammuel.

The Cougars play Firebrands II away next week – everyone is ­welcome to come and support the team.