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30 October 2011 Match report for Wilmslow Town U13 Panthers 6 - 1 away defeat to Hough End Griffins U13 (30/10/2011)
After a week off for half term the Panthers returned to "action" against Hough End Griffins. Ed took the gloves with Neil, Kyle Ted and Max across the back four, TC, Adam and Jamie in midfield, TB and Braden on the flanks, and Joe up front. Kieran prowled the line awaiting his chance to come on.....
The Griffins kicked off, and the Panthers started reasonably well, albeit the passing was going astray a bit. It was fairly evenly matched and looked like a good game would develop. After 12 minutes TC played a great through ball to Joe who, on his weaker right foot, still finished in style from 10 yards. 1-0 to the Panthers. Kizzer replaced TB and immediately got into the action setting up Joe, but the Griffins keeper pulled off a fine stop. Then things started to go awry, the defence were not communicating well and seemed reluctant to challenge for the ball, meaning Ed was called on far too often to pull off some good saves to keep the Griffins out of the game. The Panthers won a free kick just outside the Griffins' box, after Joe was felled, but Kyle put it narrowly wide. The Griffins then flew through the Panthers back line, causing Ed to pull off a very brave stop at the feet of the rapidly advancing striker.
This was just another signal of the danger the Griffins posed going forward. The Griffins looked especially dangerous when the Panthers' defenders lost the ball out of position, and no one in the midfield had thought to cover the run. The midfield - with the exception of TC - seemed to be struggling with the pace of the game and the work rate required. Soon the Griffins made the Panthers pay, levelling the score as Kyle was caught in possession, out of position, and the Griffins' striker ran through the Panthers' defence to give Ed no chance of saving his fine finish. 1-1. Within minutes the Griffins made it 2-1 in similar fashion as the Panthers lost possession again and the midfield stood and watched the defence get plundered. And so the half ended.
The half time team talk encouraged the midfield to work harder, get back and support the defence when not in possession and get forward to support Joe, who was treading the lone furrow up front well, but lacking support at the right time. The boys were told that the game would be won by the team that wanted to win the most, because there was little difference in ability between the two teams. However, despite shouts of assent and rousing cries from the more vocal members of the team, the Panthers looked even less hungry after the break. They allowed the Griffins to steal through, amidst ridiculous cries for offside, as the defenders stopped in their tracks and waved their arms around, believing their claims of offside would be upheld. Defenders would be better employed concentrating on defending, rather than living in the vain hope of an offside decision being given their way, especially while full backs are playing the strikers onside! The resulting effort from the Griffins was on target, and despite Ed's effort to palm the ball round the post it ended up in the back of the net. Ed was again called upon to make a very good save after some more dodgy defensive work from the Panthers' midfield and defence, and the resulting corner was blocked well by Max. However the respite was short lived, as the Griffins again broke through to make it 4-1.
The Panthers' heads went down and they started moaning at each other, which created the conditions for the Griffins to punish the Panthers further. The Griffins thought they had got a 5th - but it was rightly ruled offside - unlike those the boys had been shouting for earlier. Undeterred, the Griffins cut through the Panthers' defence again almost immediately, however Ed got fouled on the ground and that was rightly given, despite the Griffins' shouts for a penalty in their favour. The Panthers tried to pull themselves together with a great move that led to TB crossing for Kieran, whose shot on target was just wide. Eventually the Panthers just ran out of fight and the Griffins finished them off with two more poorly defended goals.
On the whole this was the worst 'team' performance of the season, characterised by the boys whinging at each other and complaining about other players, rather than taking responsibility for their own performance - this is just not acceptable - and certainly the destructive effects of such behaviour were clear to see in the result. Frankly, this wasn't a team peformance at all, and it was disappointing to see some of the boys turning on each other when things weren't going so well, instead of pulling together to turn things around. However despite the gloomy performance, there were some bright spots. TC battled as hard as ever putting in yet another captain's performance. Kizzer also had a very good game, worked hard and bravely, putting a very good shift in on the right wing and was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet. Joe also ran himself into the ground in the striker role and did as much as he possibly could in the circumstances, scoring a very good goal and nearly getting a couple more (Bronze). Despite 6 goals being conceded Ed played very well in goal and his attitude, although Keeper is not his preferred position, was exemplary. He pulled off some excellent saves and one very brave stop that deserves much applause and his distribution and kicking game was also very good (Silver). That said the player who quietly went about his business effectively, ensuring his flank was well protected, at the same time as providing some of the creative force that gave the team the chance to get back into the game, with his tireless work up and down the right flank, was Neil. And so deservedly the Man of the Match award goes to Neil.
Thanks to Pete, Dave and the Griffins for a lesson in team play and to Shannon who refereed the game very well.
Chocolate moment: Only one award this week - to Ed for some great saves - but in particular the fearless early stop Ed pulled off so well.
 MOTM: Neil Woodward Silver: Edward Storer Bronze: Joe Saks
Team : E Storer, M Forde-Dunlop, K Lord, T Strang, N Woodward, K Beech, T Botham, T Collicott, A Leigh, J Nugent,
B Harris, J Saks
 Goals : J Saks
 Assists : T Collicott
Referee : Shannon Moloney
Source: Alan Hansen << to news index
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