Early Coastal warning for Cougars

THE first season of the Central Queensland under-19s/Cougars Reserve team was always going to be tough and on Tuesday night Capricorn Coast gave notice just how difficult it would be.

The squad, under coach John Sunderland of Gladstone, received few favours from a Capricorn Coast that is keen to establish its Wesley Hall Cup credentials early in the program.

In many ways, however, it was a win/win scenario as Coast did well enough to win the match by 6-0 while the Young Cougars managed to get a team onto the park to play some good football for periods of the game.

The real test for the Cougars is whether the players can show improvement when the two teams meet again in the second round.

Cougars coach Brad Smith said he missed the game, but reports received from staff members at Apex Park were positive.

Four of the Cougars’ main squad took part.

Smith said the midfield pairing of Eduardo and British player Martin Davis did not do their first team chances any harm.

Goalkeeper Evan Wilkinson, a regular with the Young Cougars, but also the second-string keeper for the first team, also could not be criticised for his display.

Smith said the Young Cougars were beaten by some very good goals with a former Cougar, Jonathon Sauer, bagging four.

“Bevan (Dingley) and John (Sunderland) mentioned that Capricorn Coast were very impressive,” he said.

The Cougars coach was upbeat on the under-19 team’s prospects for the season and said from this point he hoped more young players would join.

“We picked up a few more during the week. Now players can see it’s going happen and if they are not in their own club’s first team then they will be better off training and playing with the Cougars,” he said.