U10 Panthers fail to find the net for the first time - Cup disappointment as the Panthers do everything but score

3 December 2011

After a great win over league highflyers Wythenshawe it was back to cup action at the weekend as the Panthers travelled to wythenshawe to take on Benchill Celtic who they had managed to overcome in the league a few weeks previously . After only drawing their opening cup game the Panthers knew nothing less than a victory would keep them in contention for a place in the cup final at the end of the season.

The Panthers were greeted with a large pitch with grass much in need of a trim, this week they were also without Marcus as the two teams faced up in cold and damp conditions.

The starting line up was Gabriel in goal with Ollie and Sam ahead of him Davy Jack and Martin filled the midfield positions with Hayden in attack , shivering on the sidelines were Max Ben and Dillan.

1st Period

Both teams started in battling fashion determined to gain control of a packed midfield. Playing in central midfield Martin is always looking to get an attempt in on goal and he stung the keepers hands with a long range effort as the Panthers began to gain the upper hand. Shortly after the Benchill keeper made another great save from a shot by Hayden that was arrowing towards the top corner. Despite good work on the flanks by Davy and Jack the Panthers could not fashion any clear cut chances as Benchill defended in numbers.

Benchill then went ahead against the run of play as a long shot took an unkind bounce just in front of Gabriel and bounced over him into the net . Encoraged by this Benchill poured forward and only good blocks by Sam and Ollie stopped the Panthers falling further behind . The crossbar also came to the Panthers rescue as Benchill finished the period the stronger.

2nd Period

The second period saw the introduction of the 3 subs as the Panthers went all out for the equalizer. Despite pushing Benchill back they were still looking dangerous on the break and Max had to be at his best to keep out a couple of long range efforts. Dillan went on a long run and just fired wide. Ben was applying pressure down the right and won the first of a series of freekicks that Davy just put wide of the post.

The game was becoming littered by infringements as Benchill used every method possible fair or otherwise to keep the Panthers out . Martin again went close from a longe range free kick as the Panthers peppered the Benchill goal. Their keeper was having a blinder and Benchill were defending in numbers as the Panthers finished the second period the stronger.

3rd Period

The final period continued in the same fashion with the Panthers pressing and Benchill again time wasting and conceeding free kicks. The referee finally tired of this and booked one of the Benchill players for persistant foul play. It is almost unheard of for a player to get a booking in this level of football, but even the caution did not seem to deter Benchill who were determined to hold onto their one goal lead. Martin,Dillan,Ben and Jack all came close but it was not to be as Benchill hung on in a period that lasted an extended 20 minutes due to the numerous stoppages.

The final whistle went with the Panthers cruelly losing out to the only goal of the game.

Summary

The Panthers will be disappointed to lose out in such a fashion as they were the better team throughout and the Benchill keeper was certainly the Man of the Match. They will also be upset to lose their great record of scoring in every match that stretches back to September 2010 and covers 33 games.

Defeat here probably puts them out of contention for a place in the league cup final , but they are still right up there in the league.

It was certainly a moral victory today as the Panthers were the only team trying to play football. Davy was awarded the Man of the Match prize just ahead of Max and Sam for another gritty midfield display.

Source: bill kennedy

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