U10 Panthers power past Benchill - Panthers put in best performence of the season

5 November 2011

After good wins over Altrincham and Unicorn the Panthers went looking for a hat trick of wins as they lined up at home against Benchill Celtic. They knew they would be in for a tough game as they had had two hard fought games against Benchill the previous season and their opponents had already defeated league leaders Fletcher Moss. The boys were also disappointed to learn that this was to be the last league fixture as the divisions were being re arranged once again to provide a cup format between now and Christmas with the top six in each division playing each other.

The Panthers were without the towering presence of Ollie this week and the pitch had been nicely churned beforehand by a battle between the other two Wilmslow U10 teams. The Panthers started with Gabriel in goal in front of him a new defensive pairing of Ben and Sam, 3 in midfield with Davy and Jack on the wings and Martin central and Marcus in attack, eagerly waiting to join proceedings were Max,Dillan and Hayden.

1st Period

Usually slow to start the Panthers immediatly went on the attack and Martin rattled the crossbar with a shot from 25 yards. Benchill looked shell shocked as the Panthers took complete control of the early exchanges. Martin was revelling in the central midfield role and found Davy at the far post with a lovely pass, Davy kept his composure and finished well to give the Panthers a deserved lead.

It was soon 2-0 , Martin found Marcus with another good pass and Marcus played in Davy who finished well again to double the Panthers lead. Benchill were stirred into action and pulled a goal back on the break before Davy and Marcus combined well again and Marcus restored the Panthers two goal advantage with a good finish beating the keeper on his near post.

It was soon 4-1 with Jack cutting in from the left wing and playing in Marcus for his second. Benchill then pulled another back when the Panthers failed to clear from a corner, Gabriel having no chance when a shot went through a crowd of players. . It was now end to end and Sam joining in from the back went close with a shot from range that just cleared the far post.

Ben who had looked in control at the back then scored the goal of the game. winning a tackle deep inside his own half he surged forward down the right, as nobody closed him he got to the edge of the box and dispatched a poweful shot into the top left hand corner of the net to make it 5-2

The Panthers all looked comfortable on the ball and despite the heavy conditions underfoot were moving the ball around with ease and playing the best football so far this season , Benchill were a good side but had no answer to the Panthers passing and movement off the ball. the 5-2 lead did not really reflect how well the Panthers were playing.

2nd Period

The second period was always likely to be an anti climax after such an exciting start and so it proved. Dillan and Hayden came on in attack and Max in goal with Martin and Marcus moving back into defence. The changes and the heavy pitch seemed to halt the Panthers momentum, and try as they might the Panthers could not increase their lead. Benchill came more and more back into the game and Max had to be at his best turning over a shot from distance. Dillan fired narrowly wide as the Panthers continued to press forward but Benchill pulled another goal back just before the end of the period.

3rd Period

The final trhird was a hard fought and fairly even affair with both teams on the attack , Davy and Dillan combined well but the resulting attempt was cleared for a corner. The Panthers made the game safe after good work by Ben he ran at the defence and laid the ball off to Hayden who finished well to make the scoreline a more comfortable 6-3 . Sam was now controlling the midfield and Marcus returned alongside him to help snuff out any Benchill revival.

Benchill did pull another goal back just before the end picking up on a short goal kick and finishing well to make the final score line 6-4

Summary

The Panthers won this game in the opening period playing their best football of the season , the final score line did not quite reflect how well they played totally overwheming a strong Benchill team. apart from the great football what was equally as pleasing is how well the boys adapted to playing in different positions , Ben and Sam were superb in defence playing the ball out , Martin in a more advanced role showed a great range of passes, and Marcus was magnificent in attack, midfield and defence deservedly being awarded the man of the match award.

Source: bill kennedy

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