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26 September 2010 Match report for Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers 8 - 3 home win against Lymm Rovers JFC U12 Knights (26/09/2010)
 It could be worse Teddy... you could look like Terry!Click image above for larger picture So much for the weather forecast… the promised sun was hiding this Sunday as the Panthers faced Lymm Rovers Knights for the first time at the Jim Evison fields. The team lined up: Nathan, TC, Charlie, Teddy, Max, Adam, Jamie, Morgan, TJ, TB and Braden, in anticipation of a good game ahead.
The game started off and to be fair, both teams seemed to start nervously, not settling, so the play was initially very scrappy. The Knights were the first to go forward with an attack of substance, but the Panthers defended well and kept their line, resulting in two successive offside decisions. Charlie stepped up for the free kick and produced a great cross-field ball to TB who was waiting on the wing, who after controlling it quickly, set off towards the Knights’ goal at speed, putting in a great through ball to Morgan which he couldn’t quite finish. The resulting goal kick flew over the Panthers’ defence and ended up in their box, where a little back pass from TC to Teddy was repeated with another back pass from Teddy to enable TC to get the ball out and away. The Knights proved to be no pushover in defence either as they sprung the offside trap at their end, on Adam, a few times in succession. In addition, their two secret weapons, Courtney, a very tall athletic midfielder, with a throw reminiscent of Rory Delap, and an attacker, one of two number 10s sent to confuse us, called Daniel, with a rocket of a shot from anywhere on the pitch, were a force to be reckoned with when they initially showed off their skills. Nathan had to come out to deal with balls over the top or played through the channels into the box a few times during these initial skirmishes, but there were no shots of consequence to bother him.
Adam finally got a shot on goal without the whistle for offside blowing, which went straight to the keeper. The Knights were next to break through the Panthers’ defence, shooting hard and straight but the ball was blocked firmly by Nathan with both hands. He was quick to get the goal kick away, as it flew upfield to the Knights’ end, where Morgan stole it from the Knights’ defence then put his shot coolly into the net starting the Panthers’ goal haul off, 1-0 to the Panthers!
Braden was next on target but the Knights’ keeper saved it relatively easily. Morgan and Adam put together a succession of passes back and forth, with Adam chipping one of the Knights to put Morgan through. But the Knights defended well, and countered meaning that Nathan was called into action, parrying the well-hit shot, with the rebound being cleared away by TC, before the Knights could pounce. Another cross came in and TB headed the ball away again as the Panthers moved the ball quickly up to Adam who was pushed in the back in the box, resulting in a penalty. Adam stepped up and converted the opportunity with confidence, 2-0 to the Panthers.
The ball was next in contention in midfield, as Harry made a great block and Teddy flicked the ball away with panache. The Panthers attacked again as Morgan controlled the ball outside the box and let rip again, 3-0 to the Panthers. The boys began to breathe a little easier and settle down in their play as the scoreline began to rise. Charlie put in a great pass enabling Braden to make a break up the wing. Jamie went off with a knee injury, so Harry took to the field in his place. Harry made an immediate impact, combining well with Morgan to win the ball outside the box and put the ball firmly in the back of the net, 4-0 to the Panthers! Then to top it off, a superb solo effort from TB gave the Panthers their next goal – a driving run up the wing going past a number of defenders- finishing with a cracker from the edge of the box to push the score up to 5-0.
At this point the manager made his substitutions, and TC, Adam, Max and TB made way for Sam, Neil, George and Joe. From the kick off the Knights played a ball through the channel, created by the defence being too far apart, for dangerous Daniel to run onto, who finished with aplomb, making it 5-1. From the kick off the Panthers gave the ball away leading to another attack but thankfully the ball soared across the front of goal and went wide. The Panthers took a collective deep breath and plunged back into the match, with Sam put George through on the wing who ran at pace at the Knight’s full back, winning a corner in the process. Taking the corner himself, he put the ball into the box which came out to Charlie who quickly put through Joe, whose shot from the edge of the box flew past the hapless Lymm keeper, making sure the 5 goal advantage the Panthers had enjoyed earlier, continued: 6-1 to the Panthers. The Knights responded pressing forwards again causing Neil to show off his skills with a tricky dummy on one of the Knights attackers to give him the space to clear the ball away. However the ball came back all too soon, and their big number 15, Courtney, put in a long range effort on goal, however there was not enough power behind it (which was just as well) and Nathan was able to deal with it relatively easily. Sam put in a cross field pass to Harry, who ended up doing what looked like a close quarter dance in the corner of the pitch with one of the Knights’ defenders, as they battled for the ball, however this was definitely the last dance of the half as the whistle blew for half time with the score remaining at 6-1.
Second half
Following an uninterrupted half time team talk with good contributions from TB, the Panthers went back to work on the Knights, Teddy putting through Joe who flew up the wing towards the Knights goal. He threaded the ball into the box to TJ who combining with Joe couldn’t get it in the net despite using their heads to good effect. The Knights countered as one of them carved a path through the defence leaving Teddy and Charlie trailing in his wake as he headed towards Nathan uninterrupted, while Nathan made himself as big as possible to put him off his shot. The combination of this, as well as Teddy and Charlie being hot on his heels put him off enough to put the shot wide, but he was unlucky not to have scored having had such a great run unimpeded. The Panthers took the game again to the Knights as Sam sped off on another breakneck sprint down the wing, threading the ball into the box for the Panthers to convert, however after many frantic passes in the box and some dogged Knights’ defending, it went out for a goal kick. The Knights launched another counter-attack, with another break away, however Teddy was wise to this and put in a superb tackle in the box – clean, confident and clearing the ball away in the process.
George was the next to break up the wing, making his way past several defenders in the process, crossed the ball into the box creating a melee of scrambled passes and clearances with Joe being bundled over in the chaos, but no penalty this time. The Knights came back with a counter, however the Panthers cleared the ball back upfield and Braden then had another shot on goal – a bit more power and it may have gone in – but he didn’t connect cleanly and it bobbled along the ground towards the untroubled keeper. The game wasn’t going all the Panthers way however, Nathan was forced into a fabulous full length, low diving save as the Knights took advantage of a gap in the defence. After this there was another long range attempt on goal by the Knights, again a powerfully driven effort – which cut through the small group of players in front of the shooter, like a knife through butter - only to go wide.
Sam and Braden pulled off a smooth series of one-twos, finishing with a shot by Sam on target, but the keeper was up to the task and saved with ease. The final planned substitutions took place at this point, shortly after Teddy had had to leave the field with a Terry Butcher-esque appearance as his nose-bleed got into full flow…to be replaced by TC
[For those of you a little too young to remember Terry Butcher, I’ve included a picture of him in his white (yes white) England kit during the infamous England match where he was injured. Butcher was England’s lion in defence (and later their captain), willing to put his head on it at any time. After cutting his head in an aerial collision early on in an England game, he was bandaged and plastered up and sent back on to the field, still covered in blood. Despite the blood everywhere, and the damage being almost central on his forehead, Butcher continued to put his head on anything that came his way, reopening the wound and making the bandages and plasters pretty much a waste of time. By the end his England home kit had turned into a full red England away kit having started in all white, this was quite something… Things have changed a great deal since then – he would never have been allowed to continue under today’s rules - but that’s the kind of guy he was…]
Max, Jamie, Adam and TB replaced Braden, Charlie, TJ and Morgan and the game continued apace. It wasn’t long before the Knights had regained their composure and were pushing forward once again that dangerous No.10 converting another opportunity, making it 6-2 to the Panthers. The margin of the Panthers lead had been depleted again and the Knights were gaining in confidence. With a Rory Delap throw in evidence once again from the Knights, the Panthers had to turn to George for an equivalent impact, he has quietly been getting his throws to an impressive depth too with good trajectory….
Adam was able to thread a ball through to Sam, who with a burst of speed, powered through the Knights’ defence, his shot, seemingly suspended in a slow motion movie, as it trickled inexorably towards the bottom corner of the goal, while the keeper watched in disbelief. Now it was 7-2 to the Panthers! Max was again a power house in defence during the match, here stopping a Knights attack again in its tracks. A close range shot from the Knights headed once again by that number 10, Daniel, towards the corner of Nathan’s goal, who having saved it at full stretch unfortunately couldn’t hold onto it as the ball spilled into the net, making it 7-3 and giving a hat trick to the dangerous number 10. The Panthers attacked again, the ball went out of play on the right, George let one of his throw-ins fly, setting off a chain of events that when the Knights cleared only as far as TC, he chipped the ball into Joe, who lobbed the goalie and the ball dropped into the back of the net, making it 8-3 to the Panthers. At last, the 5 goal cushion was restored again
Joe and Jamie combined with some great passing back and forth to put Adam through before the Knights offside trap was sprung once again. Harry and George combined for another attack, then TC, Jamie and Joe combined well allowing Joe to have another shot on goal, only this time it was saved by the keeper. A cry of handball went up as the ball hit Jamie in the chest and chin, and a free kick was given. Max, Jamie and Joe were involved in the move to clear the ball away, but during this there was a clash of players and one of the Knights attackers (also Jamie), went down injured. It was clear that this was no slight knock, as he was carried off the pitch to a warm round of applause from the watching friends and family from both sides, we hope that Jamie has a speedy recovery. George again provided the ball to midfield where Jamie teed himself up for a 35 yard volley from close to the half way line that he deliberately rocketed through the air to lob the mesmerized Knights’ keeper. Seeming like it might go in - like so many others he has landed in the past – and despite the ‘oooh!’ from the spectating friends and family, as we all willed it to go in - it dropped just over, rather than under the crossbar.
The final break of the match came as Adam aimed for the Knights’ goal, but their defenders put him off course and his shot went wide. After another corner which was dealt with by the Knights was completed, it was only a matter of seconds before the whistle blew for full time, score 8-3.
Manager’s Comments:
Overall this was a very good attacking performance by the team, in what was for them, a new formation. The defenders played very well too but had to deal with too much pressure due to the midfield and wing backs all being caught too far forward too often. There is a need for the team to remember to track back and defend as well as attack, so that we can minimise the number of goals we concede in future. That said, we scored plenty of good goals and kept our goal difference high – so well done everyone! The Knights were very worthy opponents, and had they not lost concentration for that 15 minute period in the first half, the goal difference would not be so great. Be warned boys, the return match at their place will be very different! They know us now and will no doubt look to neutralise our attacking threat. We will have to be very well organized to beat them for a second time!
Many thanks to everyone who helped tidy up and put up/take down nets and the pesky new barrier, all help no matter how small is very much appreciated. Thanks also to Martin Cnobel, who refereed the game today, ably assisted by Reuben who also did an excellent job running the line.
Litter: Please can you make sure that you take away all your litter after the match – we are responsible for ensuring that the Jim Evison field is left litter free after every game.
GBK Man of the Match: Joe
Gold: Joe for another excellent performance, showing great pace in both attack and getting back to defend, skill in beating players, intelligence in passing at the right time and dribbling at others combined with some clinical finishing….
Silver: Max for a great defensive display which is now consistently more effective than ever before, not putting a foot wrong, with well timed tackles and interceptions, combined with intelligent, accurate distribution…
Bronze: TB for pace, strength, tenacity, great distribution and passing, as well as dribbling at pace and a fantastically struck, well deserved first goal for the team.
Crunchie Moment: George for his excellent long and dangerous throws, Jamie for his long range shot on goal and Neil for some great defensive headers
Wispa Moment: Teddy for his Terry Butcher impression, his superb last ditch tackle in the penalty box, all the well timed excellent tackles and some great little flicks and back passes during the game
Special Managers Award ‘Taking One for the Team’: Adam for playing in goal last week, despite some nerves and for acquitting himself so well, and also to Callum for volunteering to miss this week’s match so that there would be no need to draw names out of a hat when we had the whole squad available.
 MOTM: Joe Saks Silver: Max Forde-Dunlop Bronze: Thomas Botham
Team : N Forrest, T Collicott, M Forde-Dunlop, C Sciple, T Strang, N Woodward, T Botham, T Jefferis, H Mail, M Murphy,
J Nugent, J Saks, G Steel, B Harris, A Leigh, S Short
 Goals : T Botham, H Mail, M Murphy (2), J Saks (2), A Leigh, S Short
 Assists : T Collicott, C Sciple, M Murphy, A Leigh
Referee : Martin Cnobel
Source: Helen << to news index
Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers : More Information
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