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22 January 2012 Match report for Wilmslow Town U13 Panthers 1 - 4 home defeat to Parkwyddn JFC U13 Tigers (22/01/2012)
The wind blew hard across the Jim Evison playing fields as the Panthers lined up for their first game in 7 weeks. Playing the top of the table team, Parkwyddn Tigers - who boast a 100% record, scoring 114 goals in 13 games and only conceding 24 - were going to be the best opposition the Panthers had ever faced.
Harry took the gloves for the first half with the wind blowing a gale into his face, TB, TC, Ted and Charlie formed the back four, with Neil, TJ and Jamie in midfield, Max and Adam on the flanks and Joe leading the line. From the kick off, the Tigers took the game to the Panthers giving them a lesson in movement and quickly regaining possession when they gave it away. The Panthers were pinned in their own half. The Panthers hadn't fully settled when the Tigers drew first blood. The Panthers defence failed to clear the ball on the Tigers right, after some concerted pressure, the ball fell kindly to one of their players who rifled it past Harry. 0-1.
After the restart the Panthers defended well. TC and Ted were immense at the heart of the defence with TB covering the Tigers left well and Max and Charlie double teaming the right wing. Adam pressed hard but struggled against the stronger, more physical Tigers. TJ and Neil protected the defence well, but Jamie and Joe struggled to be able to create anything going forward against the wind against a very well drilled and skilful Tigers defence. Braden replaced TJ and Kizzer replaced Jamie, but were unable to really impose themselves on the game either. Harry pulled off a great double save when the Tigers got another shot on target, and Charlie cleared it well to safety. Harry was called on again to tip the ball over the bar after a long range effort flew towards the goal as the Panthers struggled to close the Tigers midfield down quickly enough. George and Ed replaced Adam and Max, but the story remained the same. George added some real steel to the right hand side of midfield and began to give the Parkwyddn left winger and full back a hard time. Also he started to use that long Rory Delap throw to good effect enabling the Panthers finally to get out of their own half!
However Parkwyddn were too good a team to allow the Panthers very much pressure and won a couple of corners but the Panthers defended them well getting the ball clear quickly. However it was hard to make any possession out of it - no sooner did the Panthers clear it - the Tigers won the ball back and pressurised the defence again. The Tigers won a free kick on the left after George upended his opposite number, but the free kick went wide. The Panthers under attack again, cleared the ball out, but it flew back at them. Charlie started to give chase to the ball as if he had plenty of time, only to find himself (unusually) skinned by their midfielder, who side footed the ball powerfully across Harry into the bottom left corner of the net - fabulous finish! 0-2.
The Tigers put the pressure on again and won a rather soft free kick on the right wing 35 yards out. One of the Tigers put his foot through the ball and it sailed on the wind into the top left corner of the net 0-3. The Tigers - smelling blood - piled forward again after the restart, and after Ted had managed to clear well, the Tigers tried another long range effort that dipped over Harry's outstretched arms and into the net. 0-4
Fortunately the half time whistle soon followed to spare any further damage, although the Panthers had started to look quite deflated. They had just received a 35 minute lesson in real pass and move football and been battered in the wind. However, the half time team talk focused on how they could take advantage of the wind and get tight at the back again. Ted took the gloves and Harry moved to central defence, while Adam, Jamie, TJ and Max replaced Neil, Joe, TB and Charlie.
The Tigers started the 2nd half where they left off, with the number 11 skipping past a few Panthers with ease, but Kizzer got back to slide in with a great tackle to clear the lines. The Panthers started to really get in the game, their heads rose again and they began to play some of their own brand of football. George - now at right back - was having a real battle with their strong left winger and upended him, but the resulting free kick was easily saved by Ted. Kizzer battled away, while TC closed down every Tigers attack that came near him. The Tigers won a corner, after TC cleared to thwart another attack. George then cleared the ball off the line after the Tigers got the resulting coner on target. Jamie was working hard chasing down the defenders up front but still the opportunity to get in on goal evaded the Panthers. Harry pulled off a superb mid-air tackle, keeping his studs down, to dispossess a marauding Tiger. George was winning most of his duels and breaking up the wing. Unfortunately Jamie, Kizzer and Braden couldn't take advantage of the balls he played to them as the Tigers closed them down so quickly or were too quick to get to the loose balls. TJ battled away in midfield but Adam struggled, as he tended to hold onto the ball too long and was dispossessed easily. However Adam did get some joy from a loose ball that he jumped onto and unleashed a shot from 20 yards that the goalkeeper fumbled, having only touched the ball once previously. The ball appeared to go over the line but from the distance the referee was away from goal - or anybody else for that matter - it was rightly not given (despite a roar of protest from disappointed Panthers' parents). However it wasn't long before TJ played a great ball to Jamie, who laid it off to Braden, who then turned and half volleyed it superbly, over the keeper and into the top of the Tigers net, from 25 yards. 1-4.
The goal signalled a period of concerted pressure from the Panthers, with George running at pace at the Tigers and Kizzer linking up well with him. The Tigers, getting tired of George's runs, brought him down 35 yards out. George took the resulting free kick and scuffed it a bit. However the referee ordered a retake. This time George connected with the ball well and the keeper had to catch the ball at full stretch. The Tigers countered, but Ted gathered up a 'wind resisted' shot easily. Joe replaced Jamie and was promptly felled by a Tiger 30 yards out. Neil clipped the free kick into the box but it was cleared easily by the Tigers. Neil also had some excitement defensively clearing off the line at the back post from a corner. Charlie came on for Ed, who having worked hard on the left wing, both defensively and in attack, injured his ankle. TB replaced a tiring Kizzer to inject some pace down the right. Harry won the ball brilliantly in the centre of defence and brought the ball out strongly, but was chopped as the Tigers seemed to get fed up of the Panthers getting a foothold in the game.
TB immediately put his pace to good use down the right wing, working very well again with George, albeit having reversed positions from the first half. He outstripped two defenders but sadly tripped on a divot before he could cause any real damage to the scoreline. He completed it all with a stylish roll though, as if auditioning for Olympic gymnastics. Jamie replaced Max and started to create some pressure down the left while TB built it up down the right. Then a Tiger handled the ball in midfield. George tried to take the resulting free kick but the ref insisted he moved back, not once but twice! Jamie was the next to be unceremoniously dumped on his backside by the Tigers out on the left wing. Charlie delivered the free kick well from 40 yards out into the danger zone, but it was just too close to the keeper who gathered it easily. Then surprisingly the whistle blew up five minutes before full time....guess time keeping wasn't the ref’s strong point!
The Panthers put in a disciplined defensive performance for most of the first half and on the whole were only breached by either superb strikes or excellent forward play. That said, they need to be stronger in the tackle, display less Wilmslowitis, and generally match the physicality of their opponents. Some Panthers also need to try getting goal side of their opponents and get into good defensive positions rather than trying to tackle while chasing a player who is already covered. During the first half the notable performances were: Harry who pulled off some excellent saves, Ted and TC who defended resolutely; TJ who pressed and pressed and pressed the opposition; TB and Neil who got in some really important challenges and Max, Ed and George who defended excellently from their wide midfield positions.
Second half the Panthers looked to play more football but were thwarted by a very well drilled and competent Tigers defence. Notable performances: TC once again, Ted and his best friend the wind for keeping a clean sheet during the half; TB stretching the Tigers defence with his pace and Harry for his well timed defensive challenges throughout.
Overall TJ did everything asked of him in his midfield role and for the second game running got in the awards (Bronze). Ted gave an excellent central defensive performance in the first half and kept a clean sheet in the second (Silver). However it was George who stole the show, with his rugged defending, marauding breaks forward and willingness to really get stuck in and have a go at the Tigers, providing an example of what is possible to all those more inclined to Wilmslowitis (Gold)
Chocolate Awards: TB for his excellent wing play, but in particular the breaking run finished off by that stylish roll, Adam for his leaping header during an opposition throw in, and George for his fine volleyed goal line clearance.
Thanks to all who helped with clear up and to Andy and George for the continued help coaching and organising the boys. Thanks also to Dave Fergson and the Parkwyddn Tigers for their part in providing such an entertaining game of football and a bit of a lesson in how to play it!
 MOTM: George Steel Silver: Teddy Strang Bronze: Thomas Jefferis
Team : H Mail, C Sciple, T Strang, T Botham, T Collicott, G Steel, B Harris, E Storer, M Forde-Dunlop, T Jefferis,
A Leigh, J Nugent, N Woodward, K Beech, J Saks
 Goals : B Harris
 Assists : J Nugent
Referee : Josh Blower
Source: Henry Winter << to news index
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