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4 September 2011 Match report for Wilmslow Town U13 Panthers 3 - 1 away defeat to Sale United JFC U13 (04/09/2011)
An earlier than expected start to the season brought the Panthers first experience of the Cheshire Cup against Division 1 opposition. The sun shone down on the Panthers as they took on the Lions on a Selsey Avenue pitch that resembled the Savana more than a football pitch, with long grass and ditches everywhere, as well as animal excrement that needed clearing before the kick off. Robert Leach did an admirable job refereeing the clash of the big cats.
TC led a team consisting of Kyle, Neil, Charlie, Max, Joe, Kizzer, Kieran, Jamie, Adam, Braden. TB and making his debut, Ed, into the first round of the Cheshire Cup. The Panthers started well enough, putting the early pressure on the Lions, pinning them back in their own half, however they found it difficult to keep possession for more than a few passes. TC relished his role in midfield and in combination with Joe started to win the midfield battle. Joe was soon blighted with a headache, while Jamie, Adam and Braden struggled to break down the strong defensive back line of the Lions. As time went on and Panthers chances went begging, the Lions showed how well they could counter attack. Charlie, Max and Neil coped well with these attacks, but the Lions finally won a corner just after Neil snuffed out another counter. The corner was cleared to outside the box, but the Panthers didn't close down the Lion prowling on the edge of the box. Taking his chance, he let rip with a superb shot out of the reach of Kyle, who up to this point had commanded his area. 1-0 to the Lions. TB and Ed entered the fray, Kieran and Ed linking well to cause problems down the flank. And so it remained until half time.
After a talk where the Panthers realised that their main problems were that they were always second to 50/50 balls and not really showing the desire to win, they took to the field for the second half.
The Lions' confidence was growing and soon they won a free kick 25 yards out near the touch line as they applied pressure to the Panthers. A superb free kick flew into the top corner and the Lions went 2-0 up. Increasingly the Panthers struggled to put their passes together, and soon another counter attack saw the Lions go 3-0 up. The Lions were pinging the ball about the pitch well and looked like they could run away with the match, however Kyle thwarted them on a number of occasions and on others the Lions wayward finishing spared the Panthers an embarassing scoreline. Throughout the game, the Panthers had looked slow to the ball and not tracked back enough, often finding themselves the wrong side of opposing players. TB however, became more influential down the right hand side and Kieran, Joe and Ed continued to link well down the left. TC started to reassert his authority in midfield and Jamie and Adam started battling well. Increasingly the Panthers got back into the game as the Lions tired. Braden was put through on goal, but miscued his effort. However when Joe put him through for the second time, he made no mistake and finished well to pull one back for the Panthers. 3-1 . The Panthers tried hard to get another but never really came close to getting a second. Perhaps they just weren't hungry enough, and so the last 10 minutes petered out to leave the Lions to progress to round two.
The Lions deserved their victory and thanks to Matthew and Paul who ensured that the game was played in friendly, fun atmosphere, despite the fact it was a cup tie.
Charlie, TC and Neil had notably good performances, with Kieran, Kyle and TB also doing very well. Ed showed in his debut pace and promise, as he coped well with the physical challenges of the game and looked very dangerous running at and past the Lions and was deservedly awarded Man of the Match.
The Panthers will have to up their game considerably to compete well in the second division, showing more desire, more commitment and willingness to really challenge for every ball. Moreover they need to pass more effectively and keep possession better if they are not to be hit regualrly by good counter-attacking teams
 MOTM: Edward Storer Silver: Tom Collicott Bronze: Charlie Sciple
Team : K Lord, N Woodward, M Forde-Dunlop, C Sciple, K Beech, T Collicott, J Saks, T Botham, A Leigh, K Maguire,
J Nugent, E Storer, B Harris
 Goals : B Harris
 Assists : J Saks
Referee : Robert Leach
Source: Alan Hansen << to news index
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