Blue day for U13 Panthers - as Fletcher Moss put a spell on their goal, accepting Panthers' gifts gleefully

11 September 2011

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The skies went grey and the wind howled, after beautiful start to the day, sending omens and portents of dark magic at work, as the Panthers returned to league action for the start of the season proper. They arrived at full strength, albeit with Charlie sporting a minor knock, Harry a minor thigh strain and Ted recovering from his second debilitating virus of the summer, to face the Fletcher Moss Blues. The wind blew hard and the Fletcher Moss Blues turned the Panthers around after TC lost the toss. Undeterred, Kyle in nets with Neil, Ted and Max in front, TC, Joe and Jamie in midfield with TB and Kieran providing width and Kizzer and Ed up front, the Panthers kicked off and aimed to settle into the game. Unfortunately the boys found that playing in long grass was more difficult than the pristine lawns or AstroTurf of Wilmslow Phoenix.  The defence were making weak panicky clearances as the nerves jangled. Then with 2 minutes 7 seconds gone, the problem of the longer grass became painfully clear, as TC uncharacteristically played a pass that was too weak to reach his intended midfield target and too short to be a hospital pass. The loose ball was pounced upon with alacrity, as the Blues finished in style, giving Kyle no chance. Welcome to Division 2 the wind sang!

The Panthers tried to get back into the game as TC started to take charge in midfield, however the team lacked cohesion. Kieran looked dangerous when he linked up with Ed down the left, but Ed was very well marshalled by the Blues centre back and never troubled the diminuitive Blues keeper. While TB was playing strongly on the right, his striking outlet Kizzer, had absolutely no joy on the right either, as the Panthers looked like they had lost their teeth in last week's encounter with the Lions.

Soon the Panthers were giving away possession on a regular basis as they tried one touch balls, with no control, looking more like a team playing hoofball than the beautiful game. As they lost possession again for the umpteenth time, the Blues were able to get free once again and although definitely offside - but not spotted by the ref - a Blues striker got free and got a shot away. Despite Kyle saving bravely, parrying the ball out, his good fortune was shortlived, as it found its way to an oncoming Blue. However the fates were still against the Panthers, because despite scuffing his shot sufficiently for Neil , who hared across the goalmouth in a valiant attempt, to clear off the line, the ball somehow went in. 2-0 down and only 15 minutes gone.  

Buoyed by their lead, the Blues applied more pressure and could have been 3 up by 20 minutes, except this time the offside trap worked and the referee rightly gave the goal offside. With 25 minutes gone, Adam replaced Jamie, Charlie replaced Kieran with Max shifting forward, Braden replaced Joe and Harry replaced Neil. Adam immediately showed an attitude of passion and hunger, stamping his mark on the game, creating more danger in his first few minutes than the Panthers had created in the first 25. Then on half an hour, a cleared ball over the top was met at pace by the tricky little Blues' winger, who outstripped Ted for pace.  With Charlie and Max not close enough to help, he played in the leggy strong central midfielder who lobbed Kyle from an almost impossibly acute angle. The ball dropped into the far corner of Kyle's nets signalling a sublime finish from a classy player. Max created a great chance for himself  to get one back, with strong running at the Blues' defence, just before half time. However it was well saved but spilt by the Blues keeper, Max got to the rebound first, but again he was thwarted by the keeper making a good double save. And so the half ended  3-0 to the Blues. 

The half time team talk reminded the Panthers that they were not out of the game,  recalling the comeback from 3-0 down in the first game of season lat year. If only they could get their passing and moving going. After a rousing team talk they took to the field determined to get back into the game; and from a possession and pressure point of view they did, despite having the flukey, strong wind against them.

TC had taken control of the middle of the park, the defence had pushed up, and the game was being played in the Blues half. However with 2 minutes gone TC went into a strong tackle winning the ball well, but coming out worst with a very painful shin injury. Kieran took the chance to move into central midfield and took over where TC had left off, giving an even more attacking edge to the way the Panthers were playing. Kieran worked his midfield wizardry, leaving the tiring Blues mesmerised as he threatened to tear them apart. 10 minutes into the second half, TC having recovered, joined Kieran as Braden moved to left wing back and Max left the field after a job well done, particularly when pushed forward in the wing back role. Jamie and Joe replaced Ed and Kizzer who had both struggled to get beyond the Blues' strong back line. Neil replaced TB after another good performance at wing back. 

The replacements then set about adding even more fuel to the increasingly firey attacking approach that Kieran and Adam had set in motion. Kieran was through time after time, after great passing work between, TC, Jamie, Adam and himself, with Neil dominating the right flank. A shot to the left, a shot to the right and a superb save by the Blues little star keeper, Kieran did everything but put the ball in the back of the net. It was clear the goal was charmed as he placed an exquisite lob just over the crossbar. Kyle had to be alert as the Blues were always danger on the counter pulling off a few excellent clearances and one superb brave save the force of which left the tricky little Blues' striker pole-axed.Harry and particularly Charlie played very well in defence snuffing almost all the Blues counters with ease as ted also grew in confidence after his illnesses. The Panthers pressure was rewarded with two free kicks centrally outside the box ,but Jamie misjudged the strength of the gusting wind on the first one, as it blew the ball wide to the right. The second one was closer to goal and right in Jamie's range, but he lofted the ball a little too much and it dipped over the bar. The Blues' protective spells were certainly working, as no matter how Adam, Kieran and Jamie tried, they could not find the back of the net. Frustratingly for all the Panthers, their supporters and their management team, the game ended with the score the same as at half time: 3-0 to the Blues.

Thanks to Paul Carew and the Fletcher Moss Blues for making the game ejoyable and very competitive but played in the spirit of respect that the new Respect handshake and ID parade suggested at the opening of the game. Thanks also to Caelan who refereed the game well.

As for the honours for today's game Bronze goes to Neil who played with spirit and determination throughout the game and showed flashes of danger as he marauded up and down the right flank. Silver goes to Adam whose passion and endeavour started to turn the game in the Panthers' favour and could have sparked a revival had the fates been on the Panthers' side. But Gold and this week's GBK Man of the Match goes to Kieran for a superb display of midfield magic that could only have been improved by removing the spell that prevented him from scoring a hatful, which on another day would have been the case.

Crunchie Moment: This went to Neil for his excellent touch and trapping of the ball - one in particular had snow on it it went so high but Neil calmly trapped the ball and then passed it accurately to teammate.

Only one award was given today as it was thought the boys were now too old for chocolate awards and not that interested in them, however Helen now stands firmly corrected on this point!

Source: Stuart Hall

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