Conner 2 Newport Central Catholic 0

[kyag]

Nice night to watch the NCC @ Conner game tonight in Hebron. 
 

NCC started off with some nice opportunities but shots either went high or wide. Conner started to settle in and pressured the NCC defense as they tried to play the ball out of the back. Grady Noble got the first goal for Conner and the Cougars take the 1-0 lead into half time. Conner comes out the second half and keeps the pressure on the back line of NCC and a pass from Liam Windsor finds Noble again for a 2-0 lead. Conners defense was up to the task and did a good job of limiting shots from the Thoroughbreds. Around the 6 minute mark on a goal kick, the young center backs for Conner try a little time wasting by setting the ball down and then initiated play by touching the ball.  It took the NCC attacker a few seconds but then he presses towards the goal, Ginn, who initiated play got a little nervous waiting for Faulkner to come clear the ball and touches it again. An indirect kick is called from the 6 yard line and Ginn is able to redeem his mistake and clears the ball out of danger as NCC is unable to convert the play.

This was a nice win for the Cougars against a quality opponent and the Cougars have now won 4 in a row with 3 clean sheets in a row for King and Wagner combined. 

[2 much info]

I was very impressed with Conner's backline and athleticism. It seemed as if every restart or 50/50 ball was theirs. NCC probably held possession about 60-40 but never had time or space in their attacking third. Conner's size and speed was the difference maker.

Conner relied on quick breaks and long balls offensively. Noble with two great finishes on NCC mistakes - the first is a throw-in flicked backwards by a defender and the second was NCC losing possession in the defensive third, two passes later it is 2-0.

The cougars are trending in the right direction. I really liked how NCC moved the ball but they are missing the final product up top.