Wyrley Panthers U7’s v Cresswell Wanderers Friendly Match

It was good to see the Panthers starting brightly and not conceding any early goals as they have been doing of late.

A tactical switch, with Captain for the game Josh ‘Smasher’ Mason moving up front and having a strong midfield playing behind him, worked wonders. Ben ‘Whizza’ Herrington started in the free role and scored another worldy in the opening minutes with a goal from near the halfway line. The second goal arrived thanks to another long-range strike from Ben ‘Whizza’ Herrington being parried by the keeper into the path of Rio Parkes-Mahoney and Josh ‘Smasher’ Mason and Rio got to the ball first and finished with aplomb.

Cresswell got an undeserved goal back before Panthers finished the match strongly with substitute goal machine Ashton ‘Goals’ Cooper finishing the game as a contest. Josh Reynolds received Man of the Match for a tireless midfield display.

Wyrley Panthers U7’s v Shire Oak Acorns Friendly Match

This was not the sort of game that you wanted to be missing a referee who had not shown up. The result being, the Acorns manager reffing the first half and Ian Beesley of the Panthers reffing the second.

The game was an end-to-end affair with the Acorns taking the lead. Once the Panthers had accustomed themselves to the way the match was being played they were cruelly denied what looked a blatant penalty when Ashton ‘Goals’ Cooper was rugby tackled when through on goal before half time.

This injustice seemed to spur the players on and they almost camped themselves in the Acorns half for the second period. With Lewis ‘the Cat’ Rochelle having little to do in goal at one end and chances being created at the other it appeared it would only be a matter of time before the Panthers scored.

However, when it looked like the Panthers were destined for a harsh defeat, they scored in the closing moments of the game. Ashton ‘Goals’ Cooper made up for the disappointment of the penalty decision with the through ball to Ben ‘Whizza’ Herrington who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The goal was no more than the Panthers deserved after a display of commitment and endeavour which was epitomised by the Man of the Match performance of Sam Scott.

Well-done boys on two brilliant performances.

Today’s squad consisted of: Lewis Rochelle, George Whitehouse, Sam Scott, Josh Mason, Ben Herrington, Josh Reynolds, Louis Beesley, Ashton Cooper, Rio Parkes-Mahoney and Ben Maginness