Cutting off a defender

 I made this mistake in my match and I've done it quite often before, I basically take a touch across a defender or even in front of him and I then get cut off by the defender and he steals the ball, It's happened to me by 14yr olds. Anyway it was annoying and I want to fix it so here's what I know. 

My problem is that I put the ball first and then try to cut the defender off. This would be okay if I cut in with the body quicker, but I am usually too slow to do that. I push the ball and just stick my hand out and try to hold him off. Plus this is done with really little space. I think if I have more space and push it further than reacting quick with cutting him off wouldn't be that big of a problem. 

I need to move with the ball. So instead of pushing and then running I cut in and drag the ball with the outside foot, that way I'm cutting him off and keeping the ball. I think it's important to note that the ball has to be on the outside of the defender. 

That's it