U13 Panthers hold on - for first win of season against FC Sporting Sale

19 September 2011

U13 Panthers faced FC Sporting Sale in their first home game of the season. Keen to get into some winning form after two defeats, TC led out the Panthers on their new home pitch. Kyle provided a commanding presence in goal throughout the game, quick off his line, fearless and his distribution was excellent. The defensive line up of Neil, Harry Charlie and Max looked strong. With Harry and Charlie looking very confident as a centre back partnership, Neil and Max adding pace and well timed tackling in the full back roles. Both Neil and Max looked very strong in attack while Max worked hard on paying equal attention to dropping back and dealing with his defensive duties. Neil had less pressure to deal with but defended well whenever called upon.

TC commanded central midfield with Kieran linking well with Ed, and Max to provide the attacking force on one flank, while Neil and TB linked well and provided the ammunition on the other. Jamie and Adam both were alert from the off and hunting for goals. Within 2 and half minutes TC had won the ball in midfield, working it well with TB and Adam, received the ball back and put the ball through to Jamie, Jamie battled to win the ball off a defender who tried to intercept, turned and struck the ball well into the Sale net. 1-0 and off the mark quickly.  Within 5 minutes Adam had made it 2. TC linked with Jamie who laid the ball back to him, playing it wide to TB. TB marauded down the wing and got in a great ball for Adam to finish in style.  The Panthers continued to dominate, although Sale threatened with their pacey number 18 and a very good midfielder. However Charlie and Harry dealt with everything thrown at them superbly, while Ed - and particularly TB - looked very threatening with their pace, TB having the best game in a Wilmslow Town shirt! Kieran worked tirelessly to try to create chances but unfortunately his poor run of luck in front of goal continued and he was unable to capitalise on great creative work. If anything he was trying too hard and losing his positional sense, holding onto the ball that bit too long and not making enough use of his great range of passing that had been so evident in his man of the match performance the previous week. As the 25 minute mark approached, Ted replaced Kieran, Kizzer replaced Neil, Joe replaced Adam and Braden replaced Jamie. Ted looked strong in central midfield working well with TC and adding defensive grit to that area of the park. Joe worked well with Max and Ed to continue creating opportunities down the left. On 28 minutes TC linked up again with TB down the right who flew past his the full back and delivered a superb cross that Ed put away with assurance for his first goal for the Town. 3-0 to the Panthers and so it remained up to the break.

The half time team talk was simply more of the same but keep possession more and keep the passing simple. However FC Sale had other ideas and started the second half strongly.  The Panthers continued to defend well but had less opportunity to get into scoring positions. After 10 minutes or so Kieran replaced Harry as Ted dropped into the back line. Jamie replaced Max and Braden dropped to left back. Adam took over from Ed as Joe moved to the left flank and Neil replaced TB. The changes, rather than adding new impetus to the Panthers, put them more on the back foot. Kieran worked hard but was pulled into advanced positions, leaving gaps in midfield that enabled FC Sale to play. The Panthers struggled to cope with the pace on the left of the FC Sale attack in the final 20, and Charlie, Braden and Kyle were continually called into last ditch rearguard action to cover. Kyle and Charlie both defended fearlessly as they tried to maintain the Panthers lead. On 50 minutes, FC Sale won a corner that the Panthers defended poorly through lax marking and Sporting got a well deserved, well taken goal from it. And the story remained similar for the rest of the game. Late on there were opportunities for Jamie, Joe and Kieran, with Neil showing his attacking flair on the right, but the Panthers were not to add to their 3 in the first half.

On the whole, a very good first half, well organised, good passing and clinical finishing. The second half was not so good where the Panthers looked off the pace in some areas, and more vulnerable. However Kyle, Neil, Max, Ed and TC all had commanding performances, Charlie (Bronze)was excellent at centre back once again, Harry's (Silver) positional sense, distribution and composure were superb, but TB (Gold and GBK MoM) stole the show with his marauding wing play. One thing that is noticeable throughout the team but TB exemplifies this trait, is we are much better sprinters going forwards than when we are getting back to defend. All the team needs to work on its willingness to get back at speed to defend!!!!

Crunchie moments: Kyle for fearlessly coming out in the face of a flying forward, Ed for a great cross in to Braden who met it with a scissor kick shot on goal

Source: Mark Lawrenson

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