Kidderminster Athletic Panthers U10s vs Worcester City FC U10s

Worcester City FC U10s took part in an exciting game when they visited the Kidderminster Athletic Panthers U10s team at the Habberley Road Playing Fields, Kidderminster on Saturday 19th December 2020.

Managers Laurence Helme and Luke Morris presided over the team.

Team Sheet
Goal Keeper - Tom
Defenders - Theo & Joel
Midfielders - Hayden, Ethan, Toby, Ewan, Olly & Luke
Forwards - Fraser (captain) & Max

First Half
With a sloping pitch aiding the Panthers team in the first half, they started the match well and applied a lot of the early pressure.

In the 3rd minute, City produced a goal scoring chance. Olly collected the ball on the right wing just inside the City half; he set off on a run down the wing pursued by a Panthers defender. As he entered the Panthers penalty area he took a shot at goal, unfortunately for City the shot was saved by the Panthers goal keeper.

In the 4th minute, Panthers were denied a goal scoring chance. Following a corner kick to Panthers, the ball was pinging around the City penalty area resulting in a goal-mouth scramble. Eventually a Panthers attacker took a shot at goal and the ball hit the cross bar and ricocheted back into the area immediately in front of the City goal. Fortunately this time, the ball fell to Joel and he was able to make a clearance.

In the 10th minute, Panthers were denied a goal scoring chance. A Panthers attacker took a shot from the edge of the City penalty area and the ball was destined for the top of the City net, Tom the City goal keeper was able to stretch up and cushioned the ball into his control.

In the 20th minute, Panthers were awarded a penalty kick and opened the scoring in the match. A Panthers attacker was awarded a penalty after a push from a City player who was trying to win the ball in the area. As the penalty kick was taken, Tom in the City net attempted to anticipate the direction of the shot and he dived to his left. Unfortunately for City, the shot was to his right and Panthers scored a goal.

In the 24th minute, City scored their first goal of the match. Luke in the City midfield picked up the ball just outside the City penalty area, he quickly came under pressure from a Panthers attacker and with great skill he took the ball around the attempted tackle from the player. As he progressed a few metres towards the centre circle, he came under further pressure from a Panthers midfielder and he repeated the same feat of skill and took the ball around this player as well. Now heading for the left wing, Luke saw Fraser making a run down the line and played a great ball for Fraser to run onto. Fraser carried the ball down the wing being pursued by a Panthers player and got a pass away to Max who had run towards the left hand side of the pitch. Max picked up the ball just outside the Panthers penalty area and ran into the area and fired a shot into the bottom left of the net (that was Max’s third goal of the season).

Second Half
Buoyed on from their late goal in the first half to tie the scoring, the City players tried to put their mark on the match and take the lead. However, the second half was a half of few chances for either team and the majority of play was conducted in the midfield area and they appeared to cancel each other out.

In the 40th minute, Panthers scored another goal. In another goal-mouth scramble in the City penalty area, a Panthers player managed to get away a close range shot which found the back of the City net despite the best attempts of the City defenders and goal keeper to keep it out.

Well played Panthers and good luck for the rest of the season. The match was watched by a few dozen respectful spectators who enjoyed a great game of football. All the City players put in great performances in the game but it was Olly who was awarded man-of-the-match.

Thanks to all the City parents for their support on match day.