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16 January 2011 Match report for Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers 4 - 7 away win against Lymm Rovers JFC U12 Knights (16/01/2011)
The wind blew, the rain came down and soaked the patient Panthers as they warmed up desperately wanting to get into a game, the kick off for which was delayed for 20 minutes. Those watching did their best to protect themselves from the deluge with a colourful array of umbrellas, providing some colour against the leaden Lymm skies. This was a top of the table clash (the Panthers were in third place, one point behind the Knights in second) with a win essential if the team was to continue to challenge for the league title. The last time the teams met, the Knights were regrouping after the two Lymm teams were amalgamated to form the Knights. In addition, the Knights had hit a rich vein of form, so would not be easy to beat.
The Panthers took a short while to settle, the defence of Harry in goal, TB, TC Ted and Max holding out resolutely, with Neil protecting the defence from a defensive midfield position with some great challenges. TC and Ted timed their challenges well, while TB and Max looked strong on either side. Gradually the midfield of Neil, Shorty and Callum began to take control, despite the strength and size of their opponents. TB and George began to open up the right hand flank with penetrating runs and great tracking back, while Joe and Max opened up the left. Adam beavered away, winning the ball in the final third, while Callum and Shorty both looked dangerous as they ran at the Knights defence. George started to really torment the Knights with pace and power as he marauded down the right. Firstly he won a corner, that he then took, which came to Joe, who slipped it into the Lymm net. 1-0 to the Panthers! The Knights attacked, but once gain the defence stood strong. The Panthers returned to offensive, with Callum, Joe, Adam and Shorty combining pace and great passing to unlock the defence only for the goalie to save the ball on the ground. Unfortunately - due to the mud - the hapless Lymm goalie let the ball slip and Callum, with his poacher’s instinct, slipped in to make it 2-0. Lymm however, fought back from the kick off, with their danger man, Courtney, picking up the ball 30 yards out and unleashing a right-foot rocket into the top corner, leaving Harry to just watch it fly in – 2-1. Buoyed by the goal, the Knights fought harder, calling on Harry to make some good stops and clearances. Max and Ted also had to make good challenges to stop the supply in from the right. Then TB cleared another thwarted Knights’ attack with timing, skill and pace, after some great work from Ted, TC and Neil, to George. George looked like he was going to play Shorty in, but instead produced a delightful step over, enabling him to glide past the bamboozled Lymm defender. He drove for the by line and crossed the ball, Callum ran onto it and whipped it past the keeper to bag his second – 3-1. Soon Lymm managed to win the ball again in their own half, putting it into a dangerous area. Ted looked like he would clear the danger, but the slippery ball squirmed and spun off his foot into the path of a waiting Knight, who placed it towards the bottom corner, Harry dived into the dirt, got a hand to it, but not enough to stop it going in it in – 3-2. Substitutions were made: Sam replaced Shorty, Braden for Adam, Morgan for TC, Charlie for Max and Jamie for George, as the team shuffled positions to accommodate the changes. Morgan, Jamie, Sam and Braden immediately linked up well, as TB took command at the back. Neil looked as comfortable once again at right back as in midfield and continued to put in an impressive performance, while Joe and Charlie dominated the left. The reinforcements steadied the ship and played the game out to half time.
The second half soon got underway, but to the Panthers dismay, they quickly lost the lead after the Knights pressed the Panthers hard from the restart. The Panthers broke forward only to lose the ball through a poor pass. The Knights pounced, put the ball through the defence who were caught slightly out of position as the Knights’ striker hit the shot. Harry had no chance. 3-3. However the Panthers responded quickly, with great passing play and ball winning from Sam, Jamie and Morgan. Sam then got a shot on target that was deflected to Braden, who finished calmly – 4-3. Substitutions: Max came on for Ted, TC for TB, George for Neil, Adam for Callum, Shorty for Joe. Another reshuffle of positions and soon Charlie was breaking up another Lymm attack, and put Sam in brilliantly, who with style, buried the ball in the onion bag - 5-3. Shorty tormented the Knights, defence, while Jamie mesmerised them with twists and turns and could have had a couple except for some good Knights’ blocks and saves. Adam played some lovely balls in from the wing and battled away in the mud to nearly score, only to find the mud defeating his efforts. Then, after a dangerous ball in from Jamie, a mud fight broke out in the box, as Panthers and Knights battled to win the ball. Adam played an inch perfect pass through to Braden, who after a scramble, slotted it in for his second – 6-3. The Knights were not willing to lay down arms just yet, with another counter after a further period of Panthers pressure. The Knights broke free through the slightly out of position defence, who were trying to cover for the midfield, who were still trying to score more goals, giving Harry no chance – 6-4. Morgan - realising the problem - dropped deeper and TC lead Max, George and Charlie in tightening things up. TC and Charlie continued to make important challenges while Jamie and Morgan dropped deeper to protect them. After more impressive work by Adam, Jamie and Shorty down the right, Adam played a great ball into Jamie, who saw his chance from the edge of the box. He shot with power, the goalie parried it back and Jamie, following his shot in, buried it with his trusty left foot- 7-4. Battle over!
Summary
Despite the atrocious conditions, nearly every boy relished getting down and dirty in the mud! This was a superb Panthers performance. Every player overcame the elements to play fantastically. But for a few problems caused mainly by the conditions that enabled the goals against them, the lads played extremely attractive football and looked strong in every area of the pitch. Harry deputised excellently once again in nets, while the outfield were immense. The Panthers to a man belied the mud, wind and rain to play superb attacking football: passing, controlling and moving the ball with flair and speed. All of the lads were contenders for this weeks awards. Credit to Paul and the Knights who battled like all good Knights should, making sure this was a real fight. Moreover, this was played with spirit, passion, and fun, both physically and fairly as well as being refereed very well by Matt Doddeswell.
Thanks to all the friends and family who turned up, stuck it out and supported the boys through what seemed like a never-ending downpour, and Andy Leigh for running the line.
GBK MOTM (Gold Award): George for a brilliant display of wing play, corner taking and long throws, his best performance of the season by some way! Silver Award: Teddy for an accomplished display at centre back, looking like he had never been away, if not even better for the rest, now his conk has healed! Bronze Award: Neil for an intelligent defensive midfield display that provided the safety for the front five to attack, while protecting the back four.
Crunchie Awards: Max and Teddy for excellent defensive clearances
Wispa Moment: Adam for the ball that would have gone into the back of the net but for the mud stopping it in its tracks
 MOTM: George Steel Silver: Teddy Strang Bronze: Neil Woodward
Team : H Mail, T Botham, T Collicott, M Forde-Dunlop, C Sciple, T Strang, S Eyres, C McKew, M Murphy, J Nugent, J Saks,
G Steel, N Woodward, B Harris, A Leigh, S Short
 Goals : S Eyres, C McKew (2), J Nugent, J Saks, B Harris (2)
 Assists : C Sciple, S Eyres, G Steel (2), A Leigh (2)
Referee : Matt Dowdeswell
Source: Gary Lineker and Gaby Logan << to news index
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