U13 Panthers sunk by Sporting Sale late goal - after fighting back from 2-0 down in 3-2 thriller

25 September 2011

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The Panthers travelled to Sale for part 2 of the double header against Sporting Sale. Having won against them last Sunday, the boys were in confident mood, but wary of the threat their pacey attack posed. Kyle played between the sticks, with TB, Harry, Charlie and Max providing the defensive line, Kizzer and Kieran on the flanks with TC, Neil and Braden in midfield and Jamie leading the line up front. The Panthers started well taking the game to Sale. Kieran threatened a lot down the left wing while Kizzer played well on the other flank, as Neil and TC commanded the midfield. However they failed to link up play well with Braden and Jamie who struggled to get the right sort of service in the middle, which continued throughout the whole game so the fowards rarely received much service. After 3 minutes Sale broke free with their dangerous left winger, who cut inside shooting underneath Kyle to score a good fiirst goal. Undeterred, the Panthers continued to press forward, with Harry and Charlie defending well at centre back and Neil and Max pushing forward to  support attacks. However after 15 minutes the Sale midfield picked up the ball after another misplaced Panthers' pass had gifted them possession, and playing a ball over the top they attacked it with pace outstripping the Panthers' out of position defence, chipping sublimely the advancing Kyle, who was unlucky to be unable to block them getting a second. The Panthers didn't let their heads go down and upped the competitiveness to try to get back into the game but could not get the passing accurate enough or when it was accurate enough, their control let them down. Ted, Ed and Joe replaced TB, Max and Jamie but for the remaining ten minutes or so of the half the Panthers, despite having the lions' share of the possession, could not make it count. There was an excellent passage of play towards the end of the half where Kieran, Ed, Braden, TC and Joe all linked up well with some quick one and two touch accurate passing but Kizzer was desperately unfortunate not to finish it off the best Panthers' move of the game with a goal. And so the half ended 2-0 to Sale.

The half time team talk encouraged the boys to concentrate on passing with more accuarcy and power, like the final move of the half, and to up their level of competitiveness more to prevent themselves from being outmuscled. The boys were quickly out onto the field ready to take the game once again to Sale. They started well and the passing looked crisper and sharper. Harrry, Charlie and Neil defended superbly with both Harry and Charlie making a number of well timed interceptions and tackles. Kieran and Ed really built up the threat down the left flank with Kieran unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Then 3 minutes into the second half Joe was felled by a Sale midfielder. Neil stepped up to take the free kick, chipped it over the wall into the box - TC controlled the ball well, turned - and buried the ball in the Sale net. The Panthers had clawed their way back into the game. Straight from Sale's kick off the Panthers pressed again. The pressure was building with good work from Joe and TC in midfield, with Ted ensuring the defence were well protected if Sale got the ball. Then within a couple of minutes of their first, the Panthers drew level with an excellent second as Joe fed Ed, after good work by Kieran, who finished with confidence to make the comeback complete. The Panthers continued to push for a third with Sale looking distinctly rattled, but gradually Sale recovered their confidence and started once again to give as good as they were getting. Jamie, TB and Max replaced Braden, Kizzer and Harry as the Panthers shuffled the pack for the final push. TB caused trouble on the right, but once again the Panthers struggled to penetrate the Sale defence, as Sale worked hard not to let the Panthers take the lead. Meanwhile, they cut through the Panthers defence on a couple of occasions with balls splitting the defence. Charlie pulled off a few brilliant tackles showing what an excellent centre half he is becoming, while Kyle produced a superb point blank catch as he came out to save from a breakaway Sale forward. Then with minutes to go, Sale broke through the Panthers' defence and not even Kyle, who had once again produced an excellent performance in nets, was able to prevent them taking the lead. With time rapidly running out the Panthers were unable to pull it back, despite Joe going close with a shot that didn't dip quite enough to get in under the bar.

Kyle and Kieran both produced excellent performances today, however Joe's competitiveness in midfield and dangerousness going forward earned him the Bronze award. Silver award went to Kizzer, who had his best game for the U13s yet, as he gradually gets used to playing a year up, showing more strength on the ball with some good passing and movement as well as going very close to getting on the scoresheet. However for the fourth time this season, Charlie produced an exemplary defensive performance at centre back, that whilst it is not a position he enjoys very much, he carries it out with professionalism and skill. Deservedly, he won Man of the Match for a superb performance coupled with a willingness to do what was needed for the team.

There were no chocolate moments today, the news of which was greeted by some of the boys with a certain displeasure, suggesting that maybe some believe they are not too old for chocolate!!!

Thanks to Dave, Andrew and his team for providing excellent sporting opposition over both games befitting of their name FC Sporting Sale. The game was played, as it was last week, in excellent spirit and was an exciting and tense affair from first to final whistle. The Panthers once again were a credit to their parents and the club, making everyone very proud of the way they performed, despite the defeat. Thanks also to Thomas Whitton who was an excellent young referee.

Source: Chris Kamara

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