Panthers 2 vs 2 Grayshott

<p>hat a match!<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />We were expecting a tough game today. Grayshott were clearly boosted<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />by knocking out a premier league team last week in the cup..<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />Grayshott started really brightly and scored within the first couple<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />of minutes. Their attackers were clever and lively and scored after<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />creating pressure from quick interchanging of passes. Everytime<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />Grayshott attacked they looked dangerous, not helped by a very sleepy<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />looking Panthers team that were sluggish at closing down and playing<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />the ball. At 2-0 down I sensed the boys realised they need to get into<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />gear...they certainly did that..There were good passing triangles,<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />wall passes and setting back... We also switched the play<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />intelligently allowing JC and GW to show their quick feet and<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />get balls across to the danger area. EHE directness was causing<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />problems for Grayshott, whilst ON carried on where he left off last<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />week, creating a couple of chances that were blocked just as he was<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />about to shoot.<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />After a shaky start the defensive line got into play. OK started to<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />slow it down and keep possession. JF was linking really<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />well with JC and recovered to put in a brilliant last gasp tackle to<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />save a certain goal.. In first half JR was having a really physical<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />battle with the right winger.<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />With a few minutes before halftime Panthers got one back. Good play on<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />left, shot/cross from EHE with JW alert to put in the rebound..<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />Second half was nearly all Panthers. TH and RD dominating and<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />dictating the midfield, with Grayshott looked dangerous on the counter<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />with long balls over the top. Players have a tendancy to jump in<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />creating the risk of missing the ball. Second half RE was alert to<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />the ball over the top and played the last man role that is needed...he<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />also put in a couple of reactive saves, something RE is good<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />at..However, defensively the ball should have been cleared long before<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />then...<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />We are working quite bit on the attacking unit maintaining the ball,<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />allowing the midfielders to support. GW and JW did this really<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />well today.<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />EH showed what a great team player he is. Asked to play a more<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />defensive role to sure things up, he worked up and down the line,<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />carrying the ball well. EH free kick from edge of the box was<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />driven across the goal, with RD sliding in to score.. 2-2. Last 15<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />minutes was just an onslaught on Grayshott goal. Chance after chance<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />came but despite most of us trying to will the ball in, it just didnt<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />happen. 2-2 final score.<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />Fab game of football. Shame we just cannot score the<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />goals.. An issue all season as defenses in div 1 allow less time for<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />strikers to shoot. We will continue to practice final third and<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />finishing in training...<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />Support was extra noisy/encouraging today especially last 15 mins..<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />Thank you to SC and RW for doing the line and also helping me<br style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />setup in the morning so that I can get the boys warmed up..