What goes around comes around - U12 Panthers punished after failing to make early pressure tell

20 November 2011

This morning's game against Broadheath Demons was a reverse fixture in every sense.

After last weekend's promising victory over the same opposition on home soil, the Panthers knew that they would have to produce at least as much again to get a result in the return, but it wasn't to be.

There were promising passages for the Panthers as they edged matters in a bright opening period. However, Broadheath soon started to take control and took the lead after 20 minutes, doubling their advantage shortly before half-time.

In the second period, the Panthers continued to battle gamely, but too often cleared their lines without managing to work the ball to Matias and Jack up front. After the Demons extended their lead to three, Wilmslow rolled the dice and sacrificed one of their two central defenders to push three up-front. A couple of half-chances were created but not converted and their opponents continued to press - forcing a foul from the Panthers' stretched defence to extend their lead from the penalty spot.

Wilmslow had an opportunity to reduce the deficit after Matias was adjudged to have been pushed in the area. But the spot kick was saved, and this just about summed-up the Panthers' morning.

The Demons added a fifth before the referee brought proceedings to a close.

You have to look back two years (almost to the day) to find a fixture where the Panthers have conceded five without reply. That was a train-wreck of a game, whereas today the Panthers never threw their hand in (or their toys out), but for the majority of the sixty minutes were second best when and where it really mattered. On the up-side, it was encouraging to see the majority of the boys playing right to the final whistle, despite the result being long gone.

Today’s awards. Bronze to Josh Wheeler for an energetic opening 15 minutes and willing legwork thereafter.  Silver to George, due to start on the bench today but in action from the KO, for a confident performance at right back and - late in the day - in the centre. Gold this week to Max Rydings for his work in defence and especially cover tackling, without which the score line could have been even grimmer!

Next Sunday the Panthers host Unicorn Athletic Whirlwinds. The two sides drew their season opener 3:3; the return fixture will be a good measure of the progress both sides have made since. It will also be a good opportunity for the Panthers to put today's disappointment behind them with a win and secure their position in the top half of the table.

Source: A Wheeler

<< to news index

• Fixtures
• Results
• News and Reports
• League Data
• Stats