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20 March 2011 Match report for Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers 5 - 6 home defeat to AFC Urmston Meadowside U12 Thunder (20/03/2011)
A warm spring afternoon with the sun breaking through the clouds provided perfect conditions for the U12 Panthers last real opportunity to stay in the race for the league title. AFC Meds, hot on the back of their victory over league leaders Stockport Eagles, provided the opposition once more, while the Panthers needed to raise their game after a rather ugly win last weekend.
The Panthers kicked off and the opening exchanges were end to end as each team fought to gain advantage. However after some good defending by TB, TC, Ted and Charlie supported ably in midfield by Morgan and Neil, and initial attacking forays from Adam, Jamie, Callum and Braden, the ball was cleared by Charlie on the Panthers’ left. The Meds colossus George Jones - who was being tightly marked by TC in open play - hurled the ball from the throw in to the near post, where the Meds second striker Connor was able to defect the ball past Harry - score 0-1. Immediately the Panthers put pressure on the Meds but they fought back. Morgan and Neil were commanding in midfield, TC was keeping George from further damage excellently, as the Panthers frustrated the Meds. Gradually, the Panthers turned the pressure on the Meds and Morgan, (who went onto to frustrate the Meds’ number 10 for most of the game), played a sweet ball to Adam who played in Neil who hit the ball superbly. The ball crashed against the underside of the crossbar with Callum following in to make sure. After consultation with the subs on the bench Neil was given his first goal for the Panthers, as it had already crossed the line – score 1-1. Within another few minutes the Meds cleared another Panthers attack with a long ball over the top to the ‘Colossus’ who managed to muscle his way past TC and was in for the Meds' second – score 1-2. The Panthers subs hit the field with Sam, Shorty, Max and Joe replacing Jamie, Adam, Charlie and Neil. Max put a great ball in for Callum who put it away in style only to find he was just offside and so the half ended.
The Panthers were just given encouragement to go out and carry on what they were doing, keeping it tight and passing and moving when attacking. Unfortunately, soon after the restart, the Meds waltzed through some half hearted defending, to enable the Meds' Connor to get his second.
Undeterred, the Panthers bounced back with Sam exerting his authority upfront and Callum causing havoc on the right, while Shorty threatened the Meds with his pace. The Panthers started to really string the passes together. Max threaded the ball to Shorty, who in turn, put in Sam who finished with aplomb – score 2-3. However it wasn’t long before the Meds had won a throw-in on the right. Another long throw from the Colossus and Connor had got his hat trick. The Panthers’ marking again was poor – score 2-4. Jamie, Adam, Charlie and Neil replaced Braden, Callum, Morgan and TB and the Panthers piled on the pressure further. Sam and Jamie started linking up really well with Shorty and Adam, while Joe, Max and Charlie linked well down the left. Jamie got the first chance as he crashed the ball against the cross bar, shortly followed by Sam doing the same. Sam chased down every ball, sprinting across the pitch to win the ball and chase down what some might see as lost causes, maintaining continual pressure on the Meds. Eventually the pressure led to Adam winning a corner on the right. Jamie curled it in and Sam headed just over. Then after this Charlie won the ball on the left, putting through Max who won another corner. This time Sam curled it in, and Teddy headed the ball like a bullet into the back of the Meds' net – score 3-4. The Meds attacked straight from the kick off and Harry was called on to make a couple of excellent saves keeping the Panthers in the game. Unfortunately TC was injured in a 50/50 challenge with the Meds Colossus. TB replaced him and took up the challenge excellently of keeping George Jones quiet. But unfortunately not quiet enough, as he still managed to steal through to get his second – score 3-5. Once again the Panthers bounced back with Neil and Adam combining well with Jamie. A clever ball in from Adam to Jamie enabled Jamie to unleash a superb shot which was equally tipped round the post by the acrobatic Meds’ keeper. Then it was Sam’s turn to rattle the crossbar. Soon Max made a break down the left, skipped past a couple of Meds' defenders and crossed in for Jamie who showing some classy tekkers volleyed the ball powerfully into the roof of the Meds’ net – score 4-5. But the Meds thundered on, winning a free kick after a bit of hesitant defending on the left. The Panthers’ wall didn’t provide the necessary protection, and you guessed it, that colossus George Jones powered the ball across Harry into the far bottom corner of the net - 4-6. And still the Panthers advanced, putting more and more pressure down the right, winning a series of throws that Neil took intelligently. Shorty, Adam, Jamie and Sam combined with Neil to pile on the pressure. Shorty played a couple of excellent balls over the Meds defence but still the goal didn’t come. Then Teddy joined in the same game and hit a superb ball over the top that Jamie, imitating a ninja in a martial arts film, hitch-kicked into the back of the net – score 5-6. Again the Panthers won the ball back from the kick off and battled away. Shorty picked the ball up 25 yards out and lobbed high over the Meds' goalie. The whole of time seemed to stop as the ball sailed over the goalies head and…….hit the crossbar for the third time in the game. So near yet so far….and so the game ended a breathtaking defeat 5-6. Exhilarating but disappointing for the Panthers after a monumental effort after the third close run defeat in a row at the hands of Urmston Meds
A superb game, with excellent football from both sides provided, particularly in the second half, an exciting display of free-scoring and free-flowing football refereed superbly by Eddie Jackson.
Thanks to Dave Burchill and his team for yet another great game.
Thanks to all the friends and family who turned up today and supported the boys and helped with clearing down. Thanks also to Andy and Sam Collicott for their assistance with the team and help setting up and to Andy McKew for running the line.
GBK MOTM (Gold Award): Sam, for an excellent team performance, tracking back and forth and creating danger, both scoring and making a goal and playing with discipline. Silver Award: Neil for an excellent performance in both midfield and at right back. Bronze Award: Harry for some great saves that kept the team in the game.
Crunchie Awards: Joe and Neil forsome great linking up and midfield passing, Morgan for some great midfield work, including some crucial clearances, Sam for some great speedy cross-field running after apparent lost causes, and Harry for some great work in goal, despite the onslaught from the Meds.
 MOTM: Sam Eyres Silver: Neil Woodward Bronze: Harry Mail
Team : H Mail, T Botham, T Collicott, M Forde-Dunlop, C Sciple, T Strang, N Woodward, A Leigh, M Murphy, J Saks,
S Short, S Eyres, B Harris, C McKew, J Nugent
 Goals : T Strang, N Woodward, S Eyres, J Nugent (2)
 Assists : M Forde-Dunlop, T Strang, A Leigh, S Short, S Eyres
Referee : Eddie Jackson
Source: Jamie Rednapp and Charlotte Jackson << to news index
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