|
3 April 2011 Match report for Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers 5 - 3 home win against Unicorn Athletic JFC U12 Asteriods (03/04/2011)
April showers greeted the U12 Panthers today in their return clash against Unicorn Athletic Asteroids. In the previous encounter, the Panthers had had to fight back from 3-0 down in 10 minutes to win 6-3 in the season opener. But since then the Asteroids had beaten both top of the table teams the Eagles and the Meds to book a Cup Final place. So this fixture was not going to be easy. However with a diminished squad, the Asteroids should on paper struggle against the Panthers
Harry graced the nets while TB, TC, Ted and Charlie set about keeping the Asteroids strike force at bay. Shorty was paired with Neil in central midfield with Morgan suffering with a bad back after back flipping the night away on Sam’s trampoline! Morgan sat out the first 40 minutes until the ‘Deep Heat’ had worked its magic to enable to play a cameo role at the end. Jamie and Joe flanked them with TJ playing in behind Sam. Max, Callum and Braden prowled the sidelines waiting for their moment to pounce. After the Panthers kicked off, the Asteroids had the better of the early exchanges. Their ‘tricky quickie’, number 14, on the left wing was teasing and tormenting TB and TC to create space for their tall number 8, while the number 6 in centre mid was getting too much space to create the attacks, meanwhile at the back they looked very solid. However the Panthers’ defence was solid as they dealt with the early Asteroid’s early meteor shower of attacks. The Panthers took a while to settle into the game but as Neil got on the ball more in midfield and Shorty started to scare the Asteroid defence with his pace, the tide began to turn. On the 12 minute mark Shorty, belting up the pitch from deep in his own half, played the ball out to Joe who from wide on the left outside the box curled the ball towards the far corner of the net, The Asteroids’ goalie got his fingertips to it but not sufficient to stop it going in. Once over the line, Shorty, who had carried on his run, followed it into the net just to make sure!! First blow went to the Panthers 1-0. Buoyed by this success, the Panthers started to dominate the play with their passing as they combined well. TJ played a delightful ball to Jamie, who with some very silky skills played what can only be described as a ‘Cruyff’ flick to lay on Sam, who thundered a 25 yard shot into the top corner of the net – 2.0 to the Panthers. The lead must have gone to the Panthers’ heads, as within a couple of minutes their midfield gifted possession to the Asteroids who buried the ball brilliantly again from about 25 yards, giving Harry no chance despite a valiant dive – 2-1. Callum, Braden and Max replaced Sam, Jamie and Joe on 20 minutes, and set about getting into the game. Max had a couple forays down the wing, and Callum a couple of attempts on goal and TJ in another really strong performance, created opportunities for everyone. However the main action in the rest of the half came from an indirect free kick (after TJ had nearly had his face rearranged by a high foot, albeit in most cases it would not have been quite as dangerous) and a corner. Charlie, not realising the free kick was indirect let rip a 20 yard thunderbolt that simply bent the cross bar with its power that was then cleared by the Asteroids for a corner. Neil swung the corner in onto Ted’s head, who just missed the goal.
The second half continued in similar vein, with Shorty tormenting the Asteroids with his runs. One of these runs saw him 1 on 1 with the keeper, but the keeper blocked well from point blank range. Max then took his chance to run at the Asteroids defence, skipping past his man, and shooting just wide. Jamie, Sam, and Joe returned to the action with Morgan joining them to replace Shorty, TJ, Charlie and Neil. The subs had hardly had a chance to settle when the ball broke free in midfield to the Asteroids. The Asteroids once again unleashed a thunderbolt, which for the second time gave Harry - who had by now made some really important stops and saves, plus distributing the ball well – no chance 2-2. However this Panther’s team will never give up the momentum to the opposition without a fight, and once again took the game to the Asteroids in what proved to be the best spell of the game. Shorty came on for TB and the Panthers set about sorting the game once and for all. The Back four led superbly by TC, ably supported by Ted, Shorty and Max effectively shut up shop and determined not to let any other Asteroids get a sniff. Morgan and Braden dominated the midfield battle and Joe, Sam, Callum and Jamie combined brilliantly as the Panthers piled on the pressure. The Panthers won a free kick in their won half. Max delivered a superb cross-field ball which Jamie controlled with a superb flick onto Callum, who controlled it well and dribbled round the Asteroids defence to bury it in the net – 3-2. The Asteroids attacked again, lobbing a high ball over the Panthers’ defence, to which Harry shot off his line and caught it safely, only to be upended by the oncoming Asteroid striker. Ted launched the resulting free kick but Callum, frustrated by his subsequent miss, was unable to capitalise. Then Shorty picked up the ball deep in his own half, running with it, he then put the ball through to Callum, who in turn slid it wide to Jamie who cut in to finish in style into the far corner of the Asteroids net 4-2. Not satisfied with that, the Panthers attacked with Braden playing the ball out to Max who put Joe in down the left. Joe played a wonderful cross-field pass to Jamie who controlled it well cut inside and buried it to make the score 5-2. Jamie looked to be in again from yet another cross-field ball from Max but the ball just evaded him. With only two minutes to go the Asteroids got a final consolation when Shorty handled it accidentally in the box. It was an excellent penalty, which Harry, having guessed the right way, couldn’t quite reach as it nestled in the bottom right hand corner of his net. Shortly after that, Jack Bloodworth, who had refereed the game extremely well, blew for full time with the final score 5-3 to the Panthers.
Summary
All in all quite a good team performance, which only really showed the full Panthers potential for about half of the game. TC was commanding in defence, with Ted and Charlie looking very good. TB had a stern challenge against their left winger but came through well too, as did Shorty who replaced him late on. Max had his best performance of the year as he didn’t give their right winger a sniff - despite him being a very strong player. He also showed how good his dead ball skills are now, as well as how intelligent his distribution can be. Neil, Braden and Shorty all did a good job in midfield, particularly once Neil and Braden and later on Morgan had stifled the Asteroids number 6. Braden and Neil were both very creative as well as defending well, while Shorty had an electrifying performance running from deep to terrorise the Asteroids. TJ seemed to relish the more advanced midfield role he has been playing lately and showed some excellent awareness which was augmented by some sublime passing. Joe looked very dangerous, especially when running at the Asteroids, playing precise cross-field passes and scoring from out wide. Callum continued to pounce on anything in the attacking third and try to turn it into a scoring opportunity. Particularly pleasing was his willingness to lay off some great balls for his teammates as well as the usual predatory poaching. Sam had another excellent all action performance, covering huge amounts of the ground despite having consumed a huge bacon roll shortly before the warm up!! He played some superb passes, chased tirelessly to win the ball in midfield or the final third and scored a corker! Jamie had one of his best performances of the season, winning the ball in midfield, passing and moving quickly, tracking back, while tricking the Asteroids with his flicks and turns, making two of the Panthers’ goals and burying two for himself.
The Asteroids were excellent opposition and a credit to their management team and parents, as they never gave up despite being so short on squad numbers.
A special thought for George and his parents Andrea and Duncan who could not be at the match today because they were attending George’s Grandad’s funeral. Our sympathy and thoughts are with them at this time.
Another thought to Adam, who unfortunately could not play today having fractured his thumb earlier this week. Thanks to Adam, Callum and Andy who still came to support the team and to Andy for running the line.
Thanks to all the parents, brothers and sisters and grandparents who came to support the team and to Andy and Stu for their work with the team. Thanks to Carlo and the Asteroids for a great game and to Jack Bloodworth for refereeing the game so well.
.
GBK MOTM (Gold Award): Max for a very solid defensive performance with great dead balls, throws and distribution Silver Award: Shorty for another game where he terrorised the opposition with his pace as well as working hard for the whole game for the team. Bronze Award: TJ for another creative and skilful display in midfield as well as working hard for the team while playing some superb passes.
Crunchie Awards: Charlie for a great free kick, Max for his great shots on goal and excellent free kicks and Jamie for his well taken goals
Wispa Moments: Shorty for his inadvertent hand ball in the box and Braden for getting stuck in in midfield with some good tackles and passing
 MOTM: Max Forde-Dunlop Silver: Sam Short Bronze: Callum McKew
Team : H Mail, C Sciple, T Strang, T Botham, T Collicott, M Forde-Dunlop, N Woodward, S Eyres, T Jefferis, M Murphy,
J Saks, S Short, B Harris, J Nugent, C McKew
 Goals : S Eyres, J Saks, J Nugent (2), C McKew
 Assists : J Saks, S Short, J Nugent (2), C McKew
Referee : Jack Bloodworth
Source: Alan Hansen << to news index
Wilmslow Town U12 Panthers : More Information
|
Site design by IMA Electronic Media 
