U13 Panthers pipped by Urmston Town Pumas - in injury time.......

16 October 2011

A depleted Panthers squad took to the field to face the Pumas, with Max injured (we wish him a speedy recovery and thanks for coming along to support the team), Neil not arriving because of birthday party delays and Kieran having defected to 'the enemy', the less said about what we wish him the better!!!

Kyle played between the sticks, while TB, Harry, Ted and Charlie made up the back four, Adam, TC and Jamie played in midfield, Kizzer and Ed on the flanks and Joe led the line up front. Braden was the lone sub having missed training on Friday.

The Pumas got quickly into their stride from kick off, with their number 7 presenting early problems on the right. Harry cleared an early attack off the line with a good header, and the Pumas looked very dangerous. Gradually, the Panthers settled into the game with Joe and TC both having shots that were off target. Joe was leading the line well and was close to opening the scoring as he dribbled past the Pumas' defence but shot just wide. Then Kizzer received the ball on the right and played Joe in brilliantly, Joe dragged the goalie out and pushed the ball past him into the net. 1-0 to the Panthers. 

However the Pumas were still managing to win plenty of ball and looked hungrier than the Panthers. Braden replaced Ed. Meanwhile TC was playing well in midfield and worked a good move with Jamie that led to Adam breaking away from the Pumas defence, but the goalie came out well to save. Urmston Town won a few corners which were defended well, until a poor clearance from one was immediately returned with interest for the Pumas to level, despite Kyle's best efforts to save it. 1-1. Adam had another great shot on goal that was saved excellently as it curled towards the corner. 

The half time team talk consisted of encouraging the team to work harder and fight to win the ball more as the team that wanted it most was going to win this match, and at this stage the Pumas just had the edge. As the second half started, Joe was replaced by Ed.

The second half continued in the same vein with both teams striving to achieve domination, but it was the Pumas who struck next. Braden got shoulder barged off the ball as the Pumas showed their desire to win, played the ball down the right wing and the excellent Pumas no. 7 got the better of Charlie and Ted, just this once. Charlie and Ted were immens,e on the left at the back during the game. as were Harry and TB on the right of defence, particularly during the second half. However on this occasion the no. 7 got a superb cross in to the other key player for the Pumas, who buried his chance despite Kyle's despairing dive. 1-2

The Panthers gave away a few free kicks during the game, with unnecessary challenges in dangerous places, but thankfully the Pumas didn't make anything of the opportunities and Kyle dealt with those on target easily. Kyle was called upon to save the day a few timesas he proved again and again what a great last line of defence he is.  After one particularly dangerous Urmston break, he was considered by the opposition to have brought down their player, but fortuantely the penalty was not given. He then had a repaeat incident on the other suide of the goal but once gain a penalty was not awareded. The Panthers were holding on by the skin of their teeth. Urmston had yet another chance that went wide as they broke once again through the Panthers' defence. Then the Panthers reasserted themselves, with Jamie linking up with Braden, who played it back to Jamie who then put Ed through on goal but Ed couldn't finish. Joe replaced Kizzer as Ed moved wide right. The game became a midfield battle as the Panthers tried to get back into the game. Jamie came off, the battle getting too much for him, and Kizzer went on. Urmston broke down the right with the no. 7 shooting just wide. Urmston won a couple of corners that the Panthers defended well. Urmston looked like they had beaten the offside trap but were adjudged to be offside as Ted and Harry marshalled the defence well.

Joe had another opportunity to level the score as he took on the Pumas goalie but the goalie saved well. Wilmslow Town won a free kick just inside their own half. Charlie floated it in well but the goalie was onto it in a flash after it bounced. Adam was replaced by Jamie. Jamie whipped in a corner but Urmston managed to clear. Then TC won the ball in midfield from the Pumas and played the ball to Joe who picked the ball up in his own half. He rounded one Puma, looked up, realised he could carry on, then rounded a second. Not believing his luck, he worked the ball skilfully through the midfield then, with a burst of pace, lost a third Puma and set his sights on the goal.  He, tehn, finished with precision across the advancing Pumas' keeper. 2-2.

Wilmslow Town won another corner that Jamie whipped in. Ted just managed to get his head on it but the Pumas cleared amidst cries for handball. Ed was played in well after great passing between TC, Adam and Jamie, but instead of cutting in on his favoured left foot, he tried to cross with his weaker foot and gave the ball away. TB put Ed through again but he repeated the previous move again. Kizzer replaced Ed. The Pumas tried to launch the ball over the top, but Charlie leapt to clear well. Both Harry and Ted had also made similar clearances during the game, however the Pumas were relentless and Kyle needed to pull off another superb save as he came out to block an Urmston attack. Then with 4 minutes or so to go the Pumas won a corner that the Panthers failed to clear effectively, and the Pumas looped a shot over Kyle at full stretch.  2-3

The Panthers continued to battle on with both Kizzer and TC feeling the full force of this competitive encounter and having to leave the field for each other. Kizzer played a great ball into Ed but he was unable to make anything of it. Then as the energy seeped away from the Panthers, TC gave away a foul throw close to the Panthers box, but fortunately the Pumas were unable to capitalise on the mistake and so the game ended 2-3.

The Panthers worked hard but struggled with only twelve players to maintain momentum for the whole game.  If they are to win this type of game then the passion and spirit of the Panthers needs to shine from every player - during this game, unfortunately it didn't.

Kyle, TB, Ted, Harry and Charlie had very good games in defence as they had to work harder than necessary because, with the exception of TC who was superb in midfield, the midfield never really made their presence felt defensively. Adam and Jamie both looked good on the ball but were less effective without it, while Braden and Ed struggled to make an impact, despite their opportunities.

Kizzer worked extremely hard and had his best game for the Panthers, looking to beat his man and got in some great balls for Joe (Bronze).  Joe had an excellent game bagging a brace and always looked the Panthers' most dangerous weapon. He held the ball up well, dribbled round defenders for fun and frightened the Pumas with his pace. (Silver) However the man of the match performance goes to TC who, as he does every week, showed exactly what it means to be a Panther. He chased every ball he could and most often won it, he pressed well and controlled midfield most of the time. He was creative going forward and dogged defensively. He could win Man of the Match most weeks but this week he shone. (Gold)

Chocolate Moments: Crunchie awards went to Joe for following up on every ball that went to the keeper, Ted for a defensive header off the line early in the game (but we think this maybe a case of mistaken identity Harry?) and a Wispa to Kizzer for his novel method of keeping the ball while on the ground

Source: Alan Smith

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