U12 Panthers drop to third - as Kestrels' flight knocks Panthers off the top

 

With a starting line up of Nathan, Harry, Neil, Ted, Charlie, TC, George, Callum, Adam, Joe and Jamie, and Max, TJ, Braden, Shorty and Morgan on the bench, the Panthers set about the task of winning the game. As was to be expected, Broadheath matched the Panthers well. Ted marshalled the back line with Neil preventing Kestrels landing in the box through the middle, while Harry and Charlie stopped any Kestrel flights down the wing. Both Charlie and Harry showing they were up for no nonsense with strong challenges and tackles in the right and left back roles. The back four looked disciplined and any potentially dangerous attacks that weren’t snuffed out by the defence were snuffed out quickly by TC - in a new role running midfield from deep - sweeping up as he went about his business. Both Joe and George looked threatening down the wings and were posing many more difficulties for the Kestrels defence than those being experienced by the Panthers, meaning Nathan remained untroubled. Adam, Callum and Jamie whilst looking lively were being kept at bay.

 

However the pressure the Panthers were putting on Broadheath eventually paid dividends, as the Kestrels began to give away free kicks. Jamie’s first attempt flew narrowly wide after the team were unable to capitalise on the whipped in ball. His second from a similar distance fell to Callum who without any messing about, put it in the back of the Kestrels net. The Panthers were now deservedly 1-0 up. This presented a good chance for the Panthers to settle and play their football as there was some tentativeness at times creeping into their play, maybe still unnerved by last week’s defeat. However the Kestrels had no intention of letting the Panthers gain control of the game and continued to play with skill and organisation. 

 

Harry, Charlie, TC, Jamie and Neil made way for Morgan and Braden moving into less favoured roles at right and left back, Max into a less favoured role of centre back and TJ and Shorty in midfield. Shorty immediately brought snap into the midfield that had been a bit missing early on, while Max, Morgan and Braden settled quickly into their new roles. Max, dispelling fears of any tentativeness with his first challenge, made an important clearance that flew up to the forward line that Adam, Callum, George, Shorty and Joe tried to capitalise on but to no avail. Despite the added bite that Shorty had brought, the team were giving the ball away with poor passes in midfield and then being tentative in getting the ball back, which meant the defence needed to step in. TJ and Callum showed some nice touches, but looked off the pace as the Broadheath midfield began to take control, with Shorty fighting hard to regain it. Joe was drifting off the wing more centrally even more than usual, and despite the number in the centre of midfield, the momentum slipped away. Broadheath won a free kick in the Panthers half, and taking advantage of some poor marking, stole in to lob the ball over a helpless Nathan. 1-1 was the scoreline. The Panthers struggled to assert themselves as the Kestrels grew stronger calling for Braden, Max, Ted and Morgan to make important challenges. However the Kestrels could penetrate more now, as the midfield started to lose out in the battle and Nathan was being called upon to skilfully sweep up any further danger. The flow of balls down the right wing through George dried up as the Panthers failed to get the ball wide to either flank. Fortunately half time soon arrived without further damage to the scoreline.

 

A half time team talk reminded the boys to tighten up, be less tentative and get the ball wide more, was backed up with encouragement that this game was there to be won if the Panthers could get the ball wide and provide good ball for the midfield and strikers to get onto. This was followed by the departure of Ted for his party and the reintroduction of TC at centre back. Up for the challenge again, the Panthers started the half strongly, regaining dominance of the game. A great through ball from George to Adam would certainly have led to a goal if Adam for the first and only time (your work with your Dad certainly paid off Adam!) was called offside. This time he wasn’t actually off as the ref Olie made a difficult call on the angle. Shorty was tormenting the Kestrels midfield and backline with his pace and Adam picked up the ball in midfield, waltzed passed a bemused Kestrel and finished in style – a really well deserved goal. The Panthers edged ahead 2-1. Callum, Adam, George and Joe left the field to be replaced by Neil, Jamie, Harry and Charlie as the Panthers looked to put the game beyond the Kestrels reach and going forward this looked promising, as Jamie harassed and fought for the ball up front, and Shorty and TJ blended with him to threaten the Kestrels defence. However it was the Kestrels, who then, having soaked up the Panthers pressure, broke on the counter and after some serious indecision in the Panthers defence, stole in to make it 2-2.

 

The Panthers were rattled, Nathan was being continually asked to bail the defence out as the Kestrels sought to kill off their prey, eventually winning a corner. The corner flew in - the attacker broke free from the careless marking and headed well past a stranded Nathan – who was justifiably fuming at the team going 3-2 down after another defensive lapse. Then, although the Kestrels were still dangerous (hitting the post and calling Nathan into more and more saves), the defence this time defended a corner very well and the Panthers began to reassert themselves. TC started to control midfield, Braden, Max and Morgan looked very solid at the back. Another mix up as Neil - facing his own goal - tried to tackle TC who had control of the ball (facing in the right direction), which almost led to another goal for the Kestrels, but Nathan saved the day with a brilliant low save to his right, tipping it round the post for another corner that the Panthers defended well. Braden switched to left wing as Charlie returned to his customary left back role, adding creativity to the attacking play. Sam was running the defence ragged but in his eagerness to score, nicked the ball off Jamie’s foot as he was about to unleash a thunderbolt, and gave it straight to the Kestrels goalie. Harry, TJ, Braden and Jamie all connected well with Sam who continued tormenting the Kestrels defences but, unfortunately in his continued determination to score, twice failed to pass the ball at the opportune moment to Jamie, who thought for the second game running he must have acquired invisibility. Jamie’s play in this period was very strong, pressing hard, winning the ball in dangerous areas around the Kestrels’ box and, coupled with some excellent ‘give and goes’, flicks and pinpoint passes that always got to their intended target, put in his best attacking performance of the season, sadly without the reward of a goal. Then, with two minutes to go, Harry got the ball to Jamie, who passed it onto TJ who, with a sublime pass, put Braden through, who levelled to make it 3-3. The Panthers pressed hard for the winner but after another attack failed, (due to not passing the ball early enough and it going out harmlessly for a goal kick), Olie Lane - who had refereed the game excellently - blew the whistle and the game ended a 3-3 draw.

 

The Panthers on the whole showed once again, they are a good footballing team but, except for early in both halves and the last 10 minutes, never raised their game enough to beat a very well organised and skilful Broadheath team. The Kestrels were clearly determined not to lose to the league leaders and sought to knock the Panthers off their perch at the top of the table. All credit to the Steve Conner, Steve Laff and the Kestrels, who played football the way it is meant to be played, matched the Panthers throughout the game and at times seemed to want the victory more. The Panthers showed signs of the old ‘Wilmslowitis’ disease of tentativeness in the challenge and some of those players who have been bigger players early in the season were much less effective than had been the case in the first few games.

 

GBK Man of the Match: Braden

 

Dream Team Awards: Gold - Braden for an excellent performance in both defence and late on in midfield. Silver - Nathan for an excellent goalkeeping performance that ensured the Panthers did not lose and remained in the game to secure a draw. Bronze - Shorty for another devastating display of attacking midfield play and determined tackling that would have deserved more acclaim, but for the times he forgets to pass or is too eager to score and tackles his own teammates.

 

Crunchie award: Braden for an excellent, long, intelligent clearance down the wing into the path of a teammate….more from all the team of these please

 

Wispa award: Joe for an excellent header that almost resulted in a goal….more from all the team of these too