A Big Cup weekend for GNP Sports teams saw progression for several of our teams and the first silverware of the season secured!
In the girls competitive age groups, we saw good wins for the Under 12 and Under 13 Panthers teams and a brave exit from the Under 15 Panthers against higher division opposition.
Meanwhile our Under 8 Tigers boys made it count on the Finals Day of the CWYL Autumn Trophy Event, winning their Semi Final and Final to be crowned Pool C Champions!!

SATURDAY – GIRLS

The Under 12 Panthers started their home league cup tie with great energy and determination, putting SJB under pressure from the opening whistle. Avani made an early attempt on goal, while Jodh and Lily impressed with some excellent defending. Anya showed great awareness to clear a dangerous SJB corner, and another effort from her narrowly missed the target. Jodh was in the thick of the action, winning the ball brilliantly before passing to Avani, who drove forward and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper to give the Panthers a deserved lead! Roop then produced an excellent save to deny a dangerous SJB attack. The half continued with plenty of battling performances, with Anya, Excel and Rhea working hard, while Elizabeth made two great saves. The defensive line of Excel, Anya, Poppy and Jodh remained strong. The Panthers came out for the 2nd half with the same fantastic energy. Khloe created an opportunity with a great run and pass, while Roop made two important saves. Anya and Elizabeth also threatened, with Elizabeth's effort narrowly wide. Khloe showed tremendous determination, taking a penalty that unfortunately drifted just wide. She continued to drive forward, linking up with Excel before Excel forced an excellent save from the SJB goalkeeper. Lily delivered dangerous corners and showed great vision with some lovely tactical passing. Her assist set up a fantastic finish from Khloe to extend the Panthers' advantage! Lily continued to push forward, while Elizabeth came close again with a shot just off target. Poppy produced a fantastic late save to keep SJB out as the Panthers defended resolutely. A fantastic cup performance, full of energy, teamwork and determination, capped off by a brilliant win for the Panthers! Manager's player was Khloe. Parents' player was Jodh.

The GNP Under 13 Panthers made a winning start to their cup campaign, beating Kenilworth Wardens Kestrels 2–0 away in Kenilworth. Avneet opened the scoring in the first quarter, and Maya soon doubled the lead to give the Panthers a strong foothold in the match. Kenilworth played some excellent passing football, but the Panthers met the challenge with determination. They kept up the pressure, made strong tackles and were quick to defend whenever the ball came into their half. From front to back, the team worked hard, with Kaleesha and Maya also adapting to different positions. Improved positioning and sharper passing helped GNP create more chances than in recent weeks. The girls couldn’t add to their two goals, but a disciplined team performance and a clean sheet made for a satisfying cup win.

Under 15 Panthers hosted Coventry Alvis in the cup. Despite the opposition playing 2 leagues above us, the girls gave a great account of themselves. A slow start saw the opposition score early on, this seemed to wake the girls up and they quickly started to close down, win battles and created some really good chances. This saw us go into half time 1-0 down, but very much still in the game. In the 2nd half Alvis tried to up their tempo and the girls handled this very well, some solid defending and good work rate from the majority of the girls made a much closer fixture than we anticipated before kick off. The girls managed to create a handful of good chances but unfortunately the opposition did prove too strong in the end with the final score ending 3-0 to Alvis. There are lots of positives to take away from this performance and hopefully some confidence too.

SATURDAY – BOYS

Under 8 CWYL Autumn Trophy Event Pool C semi-final and final matches were hosted by Copsewood. Under 8 Tigers faced hosts Copsewood in the semi final. The Tigers asserted their dominance early. Uday opened the scoring with a breathtaking effort, dribbling the length of the pitch before unleashing a powerful shot into the net. Despite Tigers dominating play, Copsewood capitalised on a defensive lapse to equalise via an unmarked striker. However, Tigers quickly responded. Driven forward by the runs of Cameron, the breakthrough came when Lucas carved open the defence to find Marsels, who finished clinically to seal a spot in the final vs Alvis. In the Final, the Tigers drew first blood. After battling fiercely to win the ball, Gian spun his marker and slipped a pass to Marsels, who slotted it home. Tigers doubled their advantage when Uday picked out the bottom corner. Alvis fought back with a clinical finish to halve the deficit. Rehmat put in a solid performance at the back to weather the storm. Tigers then found the cushion they needed, Marsels crossed from the left to find Gian, who scored to spark wild celebrations. A late goal from Alvis set up a tense finish, but it was too late to deny the Tigers CWYL U8 Trophy Event Champions! Player of the Day went to Marsels for his tireless efforts and vital goal contributions.

What a fantastic performance from our Under 8 Lions, securing a brilliant away result against Coventry Sphinx! After a battling first quarter, the boys took control in the second, with Shivaay opening the scoring after a brilliant run, followed by a goal from Leon to double the lead. Aathi then produced an incredible run from the halfway line to score an absolute belter, before Leon’s cracking free kick added another goal in a thrilling match! A fantastic team effort all round, with Aarav making some great saves, Giaan and Harvansh working tirelessly on the wings, and Kritin putting in a rock-solid defensive performance. A special mention goes to Aathi, our well-deserved Player of the Match, for his fantastic positioning and forward movement, showing he’s really taking on board what we have been working on in training. A brilliant team performance, great goals and a hard-fought victory — well done, Lions!

With no league fixture this weekend, the Under 8 Pumas hosted a friendly against Rugby Borough in an enthralling match up. Starting slow, the Pumas grew into the match in the second half with a great long range effort scored by Roshan. A tidy finish from Jora rounded off a good move from the team. Roman continued his goal scoring form with a spectacular hat trick - his second in recent weeks. Zoran’s assured display in defence for the whole game earned him player of the match. The Pumas continue to impress showing a level of grit and determination beyond their years!

A great morning of football for the Under 9 Lions against Nuneaton Town! A lively game between two teams with contrasting styles saw the Lions stick to their approach: playing from the back, finding teammates and linking passes. There was some fantastic football, including some excellent team goals. Evan was outstanding in goal, making fine saves against powerful shots from the edge of the area. Gurshaan’s composure, footwork and vision earned him a brilliant hat-trick, while Theo N added a goal with a lovely touch and finish. Thomas stayed composed at the back, finding passes through tight gaps, while Sahib defended superbly and looked to bring teammates into play. Jagraaj battled hard to win possession and keep the team moving forward. Shaan played some clever passes, finding teammates in better positions, and worked hard to get back and cover whenever needed. Theo P continues to impress in his early games, showing real determination to close players down and make things happen. Abdul’s tireless running and energy kept defenders under pressure, winning the ball back even when it looked beyond his reach—and he also got himself on the scoresheet! Credit to Nuneaton Town for a competitive game enjoyed by both teams. The Lions narrowly finished on the losing side as they pushed for a late equaliser, but came close to taking something from a team unbeaten all season. Lots of progress, some lovely team football and plenty to be proud of. Well done, boys!

The Under 10 Jaguars travelled to Lawford United for an early kick-off, and what a game it was! The first half was frustrating, with the boys going in behind and struggling to put into practice what they’ve been working on at training. But they came out for the 2nd half with a completely different attitude. Even when Lawford extended their lead, the boys kept their heads up and started playing the passing football we know they’re capable of. Some great link-up play between Emaad, Theo and Leo helped get us back into the game, with Theo getting us on the scoresheet first. The boys had their tails up, but Lawford managed to extend their lead again. Leo then found the net to bring us closer before Theo stepped up and smashed home a free kick just outside the box to bring the Jaguars level! With only minutes left, the tension was unreal. The boys kept pushing, refused to give up, and Isaac popped up with the all-important winner to complete an incredible comeback! Theo was deservedly named Player of the Match, keeping his head up through a frustrating first half, listening to the coaches and really driving the team forward after the break. Freddie’s excellent distribution helped get attacks moving quickly, while the defence made some great tackles and read the game well. The wingers worked tirelessly at both ends of the pitch, and the midfield really came alive when the boys started looking up and playing the ball out wide. To come from behind, fight their way back into the game and grab a winner in the closing minutes was brilliant to watch. The 2nd half showed exactly what these boys can do when they stick together, move the ball and never give up!

Under 11 Lions put on another strong performance with a solid win against Kineton Juniors at home. Facing a very aggressive and physical Kineton, Yuvraaj opened the scoring assisted by Sahib. Sahib then got onto the scoresheet himself from a long range strike supported by Nikhil. Yuvraaj then setup Veer with a well placed goal. Ksawery made his mark with a fantastic hat trick assisted by Sahib and 2 from PoTM Callum. Going into the 2nd half the Lions were determined to extend their lead further but faced significant aggression from the opposition winning them multiple free kicks. Yuvraaj was unlucky hitting the crossbar and Nikhil narrowly missed back post opportunities but Veer rounded off the game with the help of Caleb. Although the majority of the game was played in the opposition half Sehaj supported by Arjun, Manroop and Wahid helped keep a clean sheet and ensured play continued at the other end of the pitch. Brilliant teamwork, well done Lions!

Unfortunately, our Under 11 Pumas suffered a reverse against Firefighters, but the boys showed plenty of determination, teamwork and some great football throughout the game. In the 1st half, the lads worked incredibly hard as a team, showing great passing, movement and determination to create some fantastic chances. A brilliant pass from Ajeet to Sunny resulted in our goal, giving us the lead! Our defenders also worked brilliantly together, making it difficult for Firefighters to break through. In the 2nd half, despite Firefighters scoring a few goals and the boys feeling a little downhearted, the lads continued to show some lovely football. There were some accurate passes, great build-up play and more promising chances, but unfortunately, we just couldn't find the back of the net again. Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take away, and the boys should be proud of the effort they put in. Keep working hard, keep believing, and the results will come! Well done to Jaiden, who earns PotM for his fantastic defensive work! He got stuck into his tackles, worked tirelessly at the back and did a great job of helping push the ball forward to create opportunities for the team. Brilliant effort, Jaiden!

Under 11 Jaguars

GNP Under 12 Lions suffered a disappointing 6–2 defeat against Hillmorton Jnrs after a slow start allowed the opposition to take an early lead and build momentum. The Lions showed glimpses of their usual quality, producing some good passages of play and well-taken goals, but struggled to find consistency throughout the game. Credit to Hillmorton, who took their chances well, including a couple of fantastic strikes. A valuable learning experience for the lads, with plenty to work on around intensity, discipline and keeping their football simple.

SUNDAY – BOYS

Under 18s got back to winning ways in the league with a 6-3 home victory over Leamington Foundation Black in Youth Division A. 2 cup games to look forward to in the coming weeks.

GNP Under 15 Pumas travelled to Whitley Juniors knowing they faced a tough challenge. Having lost to them in pre-season, and with their opponents unbeaten in the league, Pumas knew they would need to be at their best. But confidence was high following an impressive win against Nuneaton Borough the previous week. The game got off to a flying start for Pumas. Within the first two minutes, Abdul chased down a clearance from goalkeeper Caleb before calmly slotting the ball home to give GNP the lead. Minutes later, Arjun created space on the right before unleashing a shot from distance that sailed over the keeper and into the far corner. Whitley responded almost immediately, pulling a goal back just a minute after Arjun’s strike following a miscommunication at the back. The hosts began to take control and put GNP under sustained pressure, scoring twice more to complete what looked like a remarkable comeback. With just five minutes remaining in the first half, Whitley had turned the game around and led 3–2. But Pumas weren't about to give up. Abdul chipped a through ball forward, and Fabion showed tremendous bravery to chase it down and head the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper. The goal came at the cost of a nasty collision between the players, but Fabion’s determination and courage gave Pumas a huge lift. Inspired by the equaliser, Sean then chased another through ball and got there ahead of the keeper to put GNP back in front at 4–3 just before half-time. Whitley came out strongly after the break, pushing hard for an equaliser. However, the GNP defence stood firm, dealing with the danger and cutting out balls over the top to frustrate the hosts. As the 2nd half progressed, GNP took control. JJ used his pace to create space before playing a superb ball through to Eric, who made no mistake in finishing to score his first goal for GNP and extend the lead. Pumas were determined to see the game out, winning tackles, competing for every header and throwing themselves into every challenge as Whitley continued to push. Their hard work and commitment were rewarded again when Sean received the ball out wide, took a brilliant touch past Whitley’s right-back and finished to make it 6–3 to GNP. With some more excellent defending to close out the game, Pumas secured a fantastic victory against a side that had been unbeaten in the league. After trailing, the lads showed incredible character, determination and teamwork to turn the game around and claim all three points. A massive result for the Pumas, who head home with a well-deserved win and move up to 4th in the table. What a performance from the lads!

Under 15 Tigers hosted Leamington Foundation Red in a battle of two unbeaten teams at the top of Div B. Leamington started well and earned a debatable penalty after 12 mins. Thankfully Wiktor was on hand to save the penalty comfortably! Emmanuel and Jasper joined the game from the bench halfway through the 1st half, and it was Jasper who put GNP into the lead with his first involvement! He latched onto a pass down the middle from Harman B and nicked it past the keeper before finishing into the empty net! GNP then had their best spell of the game controlling possession and the high press working perfectly. During this spell, Saavun showed great feet and then an audacious shot from 20 yards which had the keeper beat, but sadly, the strike crashed off the crossbar and away to safety! Just when it seemed the Tigers were going to push on, an innocuous Leamington through ball on 29 mins saw Enoch shepherding the ball back towards his keeper; however a lack of communication let in the striker who reached around Enoch to stab the ball past Wiktor from just 5 yards. The 2nd half started poorly for GNP and it was seemingly inevitable when Leamington struck again, the same striker flicking the ball over GNP defenders twice before beating the keeper from close range. GNP huffed and puffed for an equaliser but only created half chances, Ayden’s shot being palmed wide and an Emmanuel shot across the face of goal were the closest they came to an equaliser. Leamington could have added more but the score finished 1-2, ending a memorable 24 match league unbeaten run for GNP Tigers, which has stretched over 3 different seasons and 19 months altogether! PotM: Dylan for the 2nd consecutive week.

The Under 14 Pumas travelled away to Coundon Cockerels missing goalkeeper Harrison through injury, along with the influential Armaan. It was a disappointing opening, conceding inside the first minute and struggling to get a foothold in the game. The turning point for the Pumas came when Nathan played a perfectly weighted through ball for new boy Layton to race onto. Layton kept his composure and finished brilliantly, leaving the Coundon keeper standing to score his first ever goal for the Pumas and draw the game level. A lapse in concentration allowed Coundon to regain the lead, before Layton thought he had grabbed his second, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Despite going into the half-time break 2-1 down, the Pumas finished the 1st half as the stronger side and carried that momentum into the 2nd half. The equaliser came through Pumas’ talisman Nathan, who latched onto a flick and raced clear of the Coundon defence before finishing to make it 2-2. From there, both teams went in search of a winner in a competitive end-to-end contest. Stand-in goalkeeper Haris produced a couple of excellent saves late on to deny Coundon and make sure GNP came away with a deserved point. Player of the Match: Nathan. A superb performance from Nathan, although he was pushed all the way for the award by an excellent display from Layton. Full Time: Coundon Cockerels 2-2 GNP Pumas. A difficult start, but a positive response from the boys. Great character to come from behind twice and keep battling until the final whistle. Special mention to Pumas captain JJ, who for the 2nd week running, started off in goal for the Pumas

Under 13 Jaguars secured an impressive 4–3 victory against a strong Hartshill Lions side! Victor scored twice, Robin added another, and Rayhaan completed the scoring in an exciting match full of excellent football, teamwork and determination. The scoreline should have been more comfortable, as the boys created plenty of chances and Hartshill’s goalkeeper made several excellent saves to keep them in the game. Player of the Match went to Victor for his two brilliant goals, outstanding work rate and crucial last-minute tackle. The boys showed great determination and character to hold on under late pressure, making it four wins from their first five league games to keep them in the promotion hunt.

The Under 13 GNP Pumas faced a tough challenge against top-of-the-league CTK, and the first half was a fantastic battle from start to finish! The Pumas went toe-to-toe with a strong CTK side, creating several promising chances while showing great determination and organisation at the back. Lekan thought he had broken the deadlock, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside. Despite the Pumas’ efforts, CTK managed to find the breakthrough just before half-time. CTK came out stronger after the break and took their chances to move three goals ahead. However, the Pumas refused to give up! Lekan got the Pumas on the scoresheet to make it 3-1, showing great determination to keep the fight alive. CTK responded with a fourth goal, but Kian had the final say for the Pumas, finding the net to make it 4-2. A special mention to Sam, who produced some outstanding saves throughout the match, showing fantastic confidence and keeping the Pumas in the contest when it mattered most. While the scoreline may not tell the full story, there were plenty of positives to take from this performance. The Pumas showed great spirit, created chances and battled hard against the league leaders right until the final whistle.

Under 11 Tigers were up against Grove Farm. The Tigers got into their stride early doors playing some wonderful passing football. With the possession dictated by the Tigers, surely it was only going to be a matter of time before they took the lead. The crossbar got rattled 3 times by 3 different players and perhaps it was going to be one of those days! Grove Farm had a long ball tactic and Ollie was brought into action a number of times but with his safe hands he kept them at bay. Going into 2nd half it was still equal. Grove Farm against the run of play scored! The Tigers though always tend to respond quickly after conceding and they did just that. Some fab link up play between Veer and Sahib allowed PotM Sahib to slot in a goal. The Tigers managed to create more chances however it wasn’t meant to be, leaving them with a draw. A game where the process was correct but the result not quite. This performance though will certainly hold them in good stead going forward.

The Under 10 Lions played a home game against Mount Nod Lightning. The Lions faced a team with great skill of working in cohesion as a team. This made it a challenge for the boys to overcome in their ambition to continue their undefeated streak going. The scoring was opened by the opposition with a goal in the first quarter, quickly followed by an equaliser by Dayal. The Lions increased their lead with another goal from Aaron in the box. Both these goals were assisted by Harvey. In the third quarter the boys lost their lead, but a lucky free kick put the Lions back in the lead. Mount Nod made many attempts in the last quarter but were unable to get past the stubborn Lions defence. Well done boys and keep it going!

Under 10 Tigers

Under 10 Pumas

Under 9 Pumas put in a strong performance away against Coventry Phoenix, getting off to a fast start and maintaining their attacking play throughout the match. Harmilun opened the scoring, and finished with a hat trick. While Armanvir deserves a special mention for some excellent passing and link-up play, he never stopped running. It was a great team effort overall, with nearly every member of the team getting on the scoresheet. An enjoyable match for any spectator and the boys are looking forward to their next game.