Crocked U13 Panthers put up a brave fight - but finally fall prey to the Hawks

13 November 2011

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With four players carrying injuries, Charlie out injured and Harry away, the Panthers came to this match looking more like a ward in casualty than a football team, as Jamie spent virtually the whole warm up icing his swollen knee, caused by Osgood-Schlatter's disease. Max took the gloves, TB, TC, Neil and Ed made up the back four, Ted, Adam and Jamie took the midfield roles, Kizzer and Braden on the flanks and Joe leading the line up front. It was always going to be a hard battle, but the Panthers seemed to want to make it more difficult for themselves. Neil gave away a free kick on the edge of the box (which should have been a penalty) by pushing an opponent in the back. Fortunately the Panthers defended it well, but seconds later they did give a penalty away, as Adam rushed into a challenge and tripped an attacking Hawk. The first penalty had to be retaken because of encroachment but Max guessed right, diving to his left on both occasions, but just couldn't pull off a save. 0-1 down and less than 5 minutes gone. The Hawks put the pressure back on as the Panthers insisted on giving the ball away cheaply, and not taking the time or care to pass accurately. The Hawks won a number of corners and eventually the inevitable happened, the Panthers cleared a corner off the line but only to an attacking Hawk who tapped it in to make it 0-2.

Slowly the Panthers clawed their way back into the game as they worked out some tactics to put pressure back onto the Hawks. Teddy started to stamp his authority on midfield, linking up well with Adam, Jamie and Kizzer. Adam weaved his way into the box only to be pushed by a defending Hawk and the penalty was given. Adam placed the penalty well, despite the Hawks' keeper getting a hand to it. 1-2. However the Hawks weren't going to let the Panthers back into the game, forcing TB, TC and Neil into some important challenges and Ed into some excellent clearances. Max was also called into action again, pulling off an excellent save. However the Hawks managed to break free again and made it 1-3.

As the half wore on, the Panthers won a free kick deep in their half. Adam took the kick and played a superb ball in for Joe, but unfortunately Kizzer was unable to convert. The Hawks won a corner that Max cleared brilliantly, palming it way. Adam put Joe through, but Joe put it wildly over the bar, much to his frustration. Jamie and Ted worked together well to win the ball in midfield, muscling the Hawks defender off the ball, to put Joe in, who shot just wide. The Panthers were really improving. Max had to pull off another excellent mid-air save, so good that the ref as well as all the supporters applauded. Then Joe worked another chance for himself but much to his annoyance, put his shot narrowly wide. The Panthers won a free kick deep into the Hawks half and Neil played the ball in at the back post superbly. The keeper dropped it but the Panthers were ruled offside after the fumble and therefore unable to pull one back. Joe was pushed off the ball in a dangerous position for the Hawks, but puzzlingly the free kick was given against him. Then to finish off an exciting half, Max pulled off a brilliant point blank stop to ensure the score remained 1-3 at half time.

At half time the Panthers were encouraged to get to the ball quicker and track back quicker, at the same time as making sure they didn't give the ball away easily. The Panthers were right up for it from the second half kick off. Jamie played an excellent ball into to TB, who played it through to Joe. Joe calmly took the ball in his stride and then lifted it over the keeper superbly to make it 2-3. Undaunted, the Hawks were on the attack winning a corner. However once again Max rose above the heads in the box to catch it. Then Braden won the ball at left back, played it through to Joe, who weaved his way through the Hawks defence, played it over the goalie's head again and in it went, despite the goalie getting a touch on it. 3-3 and the Panthers come back had been superb. The Hawks continued to work hard to ensure the Panthers momentum didn't continue, Neil and TC both stopping a number of Hawks attacks brilliantly. Then just when it looked like a Hawk striker was about to release a rocket from within the box, Braden pinched the ball off his toe and cleared safely. Max once again had to pull off another good catch from a corner. Meanwhile TB and Jamie switched positions for a bit. The Hawks once again managed to break through the ranks giving Max no chance. Then we were entertained by 3 minutes of comedy as Adam, now suffering with blisters, swapped the goalie gloves and shirt with Max. However once the game restarted, the Hawks advanced, Neil cleared well, but the ball flew back towards the goal as a Hawks' midfielder curled a wonder strike into the top corner. Adam had no chance! 3-5.

Max gave a way a foul in midfield and the Hawks free kick cleared the wall well but Adam caught it confidently. Adam, like Max before him cleared his lines well and distributed the ball intelligently. The Hawks had another attack and Adam had to get an awkward ball to safety round the post. Then it was Jamie's turn to be floored and Neil took the resulting kick, but the Panthers couldn't make anything of it. The Hawks won one too but didn't make anything of theirs either. Joe then broke free and looked like he was going to get his hat trick, but the ball bobbled as he shot and he slotted it narrowly wide again. Then Max went into a challenge bravely, but it was too much for him as he had been suffering with his recurrent heel problem. The pain proving too much, he sadly had to leave the pitch for the rest of the game. The Panthers, now down to 10 - because no subs were available - actually upped the pace and piled on the pressure. The Hawks countered. TC stopped a Hawks counter superbly then took off like a hare from his own penalty area, leaving Hawks in his wake, as he flew up the right wing and cut inside, round the last defender with ease, and shot superbly into the top left corner of the net. A real contender for goal of the season I imagine! 4-5. The most impressive thing, from a team perspective, about this break was TC's position was covered well by Kizzer, as Adam had done earlier when TB went marauding and Ted had  done when Neil did the same. It was great to see the Panthers defenders, TC, Neil and TB all charging forward creating havoc with their pace and skill and even better to see their teammates covering when they did!

Adam once again was called upon to pull off an excellent short range reflex save to deny the Hawks another, while Jamie battled hard in midfield. There was no indication that the Panthers were suffering being down to 10 men. Ed had a couple of opportunities to score, after excellent work by Joe and Jamie, but on both occasions dwelled too long over it and made it easy for the keeper to stop him. Adam was quick off his line twice to snuff out danger as TB tracked back to cover, However the Hawks won another corner and scored through an unchallenged header 4-6. And so the game ended.

This was a spirited performance by the Panthers with lots to be pleased about. If some of the chances that went begging had been finished as clinically as the 4 goals, then it could have been a different result. The Hawks probably just shaded the game and therefore deserved the win, but there was very little to choose between the two sides. Roll on the return fixture! Adam played very well in his cameo role in goal and battled hard throughout despite suffering from blisters. Jamie played bravely through the pain barrier as he contributed some excellent moves and played the whole 80 odd minutes with a very painful knee. TC was superb at centre back and gave very little away all game, scoring his superb solo effort. Kizzer continued his improvement plying his trade as well at right back as he did on the wing. TB was also immense at right back and on the wing, always threatening when he got the ball and ran at the Hawks. Joe could have had a hatful of goals, sadly having to settle for a very well taken brace, but worked his socks off for the whole game. Ed looked dangerous down the left wing getting in some great crosses and also played well at left back. That said he needs to be more confident both in the tackle and in front of goal to make the most of what was a good performance. Braden pulled off some very important interceptions, tackles and worked hard at times, however he could benefit from a higher work rate throughout the game, particularly when called upon to track back and cover.

Max was fantastic in goal, pulling off a number of excellent saves and distributing the ball well both off the ground and out of his hands. He also played bravely outfield, while in considerable pain which unfortunately got the better of him near the end of the game (Bronze). Neil like TC was superb at centre back, with timely interceptions and challenges, at the same time as covering well with pace on many occasions. He looked great going forward too, which is something the defenders should do more often. The only thing to work on is the odd rash challenge or impatient push, that serve neither him nor the team well (Silver). However it was Ted who stole the show today with a passionate, all action performance in midfield. He broke up play superbly, pressed the opposition relentlessly and started off a lot of Panthers attacks. With his long throws, his heading ability and looking more mobile than has been previously seen, he put in the complete performance for the team and deservedly won Man of the Match (Gold).

Chocolate moments: Max for his stint in goal with some superb punches, catches and saves, Adam for his saves in goal and also for covering while TB went marauding forward, TC for his spectacular solo goal, and Braden for pinching the ball off the toe of the Hawks' striker before he could take a shot. 

Source: Clive Tyldesley

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