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13 February 2011 Match report for Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers 7 - 4 away defeat to AFC Urmston Meadowside U12 Thunder (13/02/2011)
A dark, dull and damp morning greeted the Panthers in their much awaited cup quarter final with AFC Urmston Meadowside at a muddy Lees Field. TC got off to a good start by winning the toss and turning the Meads around after the tactical instructions of the management.
As suspected, the Thunder were aggressive from the off, using their physical presence well and within minutes had managed to get a ball over the top of the Panther’s defence and their huge and quick number 17 was through to give Harry no chance in nets. 1-0 to the Thunder! Soon a similar ball cut the defence apart, as a shot then flew in from the right and once again no.17 was in, after Harry pulled off a superb save, to follow up the parried ball and bury his and the Thunder’s second. Undeterred, the Panthers settled and played their football as TC, Neil and Max began to get more comfortable in defence, with Neil and TC, getting in a number of well timed challenges and clearances. However, too often instead of clearing the ball wide, it was passed to an opponent in midfield rather than cleared to another Panther or out to the wings. This increased the pressure that then led to a third freaky goal in which the ball, once caught by the wind, sailed into the bottom corner from nothing more than a pass from 35 yards out. This confused the life out of everyone on and off the pitch causing much laughter unfortunately. A weird goal to say the least! Once again, Harry stood no chance. Soon Shorty, Morgan, Sam, Jamie, Joe, TB and Braden began to stamp their authority on the game. Shorty and Morgan began to win the midfield battle, Joe and TB tormented the Thunder on the flanks, while Jamie and Sam combined with skill to begin to create some chances against the run of the play. Soon Sam managed to get the ball to Braden who beat the keeper brilliantly with a long range effort. 3-1 and the Panthers were back in it. The Panthers pressed with Jamie mesmerising their right midfielder with his turns and tricks. Sam showed his strength in winning the ball often after cross field runs, and distributed it equally well. Joe tormented the Thunder defence and deserved a couple of goals, but it was not to be as the ball ended up in the hedge a few times. Ted, Adam, Callum and George replaced Max, Morgan, Sam and Jamie and set about trying to build on the momentum the lads had gained. Unfortunately, just before half time, their number 17 broke free again and scored his third. 4-1 to the Meads!
Despite the half time scoreline, this was not really a surprise considering the conditions. The Panthers knew they could use the conditions in their favour in the second half and get back into the game. Using the wind and the slope to their advantage, they pushed the Thunder players deep into their own half. Great play from Adam and Shorty won their battles in midfield. George worked hard to help out defensively in dealing with sporadic breaks from the pressurised Meads while also working well with Joe as the Panthers advanced. TB, Braden and Callum were passing and moving well which enabled Braden to set up Callum who burst through the Meads defence to finish clinically. 4-2 and game on! Straight away from the restart the Panthers took charge, although TC had to deal with the number 17 and his physical ways brilliantly on a number of occasions, as did Ted and Neil dealing with the others. Once again, more good play enabled the Panthers to pressurise the Meads goal and as a ball broke free from the Meads keeper's fluffed clearance, Cal was there again to poach his second. 4-3 and the Panthers had all the momentum. Max, Jamie, Sam and Morgan, replaced Neil, TB, Shorty and Braden and the Panthers continued to put the pressure on. George went close hitting the post then, from one of his corners, Teddy pounced and levelled at 4-4. Both Adam and Joe had to leave the field after the physical approach of the Thunder took its toll in a couple of wayward challenges, to be replaced by TB and Braden. However try as they may, the Panthers could not get another before the final whistle blew.
10 minutes each way of extra time ensued as the Panthers played out a rearguard first period. Unfortunately the number 17 was still persistent enough to get through down the left again and make it 5-4. Undeterred, with Neil replacing Max, Adam replacing George and Joe replacing Braden, the Panthers battled through the second part of extra time endeavouring to get back into the game. But despite the valiant defensive efforts of TC, Ted and Neil they were unable to stop that number 17 breaking through twice for his second hat trick of the day, scoring twice to make the score 7-4 AET.
Summary
This was a fantastic match, exciting to watch with plenty for all the Panthers to be pleased about. The Panthers played some superb football but ultimately were vanquished by a physical team with a superb colossus of a striker that played counter attack football very well. Neil, Max and especially TC and Ted were superb in very difficult defensive conditions. Harry was quick off his line, pulled off a superb save to deny one opportunity to score and was largely untroubled except for the impossible to save strikes of the number 17!
TB and Joe were superb going forward on the flanks and often created difficulty for the Meads defence and midfield, as they beat them on numerous occasions with the skill and pace. That said, the defensive side of their work needs as much attention as the offensive work. Adam, Shorty and Morgan were excellent in midfield and Sam and Jamie worked hard with flashes of sublime skill. George and Braden were both dangerous in their attacking roles while also working hard when in defensive ones. Callum once again bagged a brace as just reward for some great work up front, while Braden and Ted both capitalised on their opportunities well.
However, the Panthers still need to work to ensure that they continue to track back quickly to get behind the ball when they lose it, what happens instead is that there is a tendency to stand and watch. This weakness gets worse as a game goes on, and points towards the need for the boys to get fitter. It is well worth remembering what you do when you haven’t got the ball is even more important than what you do with it when you have!!!
Thanks to Dave Burchill and his management team for the professional approach they took with their team, especially when dealing with the less desirable behaviour of a couple of players. Well done to Matthew Byrne who did a very good job of refereeing a very competitive game.
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Thanks to all the friends and family who turned up today and supported the boys and made sure they were all there on time. Thanks also to Andy and Sam Collicott for their assistance with the team.
GBK MOTM (Gold Award): Teddy for another superb defensive display dealing with once of the best strikers he will ever face very well. Silver Award: Morgan for a strong, disciplined and effective performance in midfield. Bronze Award: Adam for an excellent, skilful and disciplined performance in midfield.
Crunchie Award: Harry for his superb saves and good work between the sticks, TC for ‘frustrating the patience’ out of the number 17 for long periods of the game and maintaining his professionalism after a particularly nasty bit of retribution and Callum for yet another well taken brace of goals.
Wispa Moments: Sam for great cross field running and tackling, and Joe for his sterling work down the wing despite at times facing great adversity
 MOTM: Teddy Strang Silver: Morgan Murphy Bronze: Adam Leigh
Team : H Mail, T Collicott, M Forde-Dunlop, T Strang, N Woodward, T Botham, S Eyres, A Leigh, M Murphy, J Nugent,
J Saks, S Short, G Steel, B Harris, C McKew
 Goals : T Strang, B Harris, C McKew (2)
 Assists : S Eyres, G Steel, B Harris
Referee : Matthew Byrne
Source: Andy Gray and Sian Massey << to news index
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