Storm Claudia brought a deluge of rain on Friday which wiped out almost all grass fixtures this weekend. 5 games beat the weather (3 of them gainst Coventry Sphinx!) thanks to 3G pitches. Catch up below on all the action!

SATURDAY – GIRLS

Under 9 Panthers hosted Silhill and got off to a flying start. The team set the tone early with confident attacking play, leading to a flurry of first-half goals. Jaye opened the scoring, followed by well-taken finishes from Jackie and Abi. Siya added two goals with her trademark energy and persistence, and Mihar matched that with two of her own, capping off an excellent first-half display. What really stood out was the togetherness across the pitch. The Panthers showed clear evidence of putting their training work into practice—linking up well, looking for each other, and moving the ball forward with purpose. The momentum continued into the 2nd half. Abi added two more goals, Shreya got herself on the scoresheet with a determined strike, and Siya completed a brilliant performance with three further goals. Across the team, there were strong contributions in every area of the pitch. Lily continued to offer stability and commitment throughout. Overall, this was a really positive performance and a clear sign of the progress the team is making. The Panthers played with confidence, teamwork, and a growing understanding of the game — great steps forward for the whole squad.

The Under 11 Panthers travelled to Coventry Sphinx following a comeback draw the previous week. With only 8 players available, the coaches agreed to play an 8v8 format. Despite the challenge of a full-strength Sphinx side, the Panthers showed determination and adaptability from the first whistle. Lining up in unfamiliar positions, the Panthers began with a disciplined defensive approach, inviting early pressure from Sphinx. Hope was outstanding in goal, pulling off several superb saves from long-range efforts. Eventually, sustained pressure led to a lapse in concentration, allowing Sphinx to break through and score. In midfield, Anaiya displayed excellent composure, distributing the ball intelligently into the wide channels for Avani and Elizabeth to chase. Although the final pass to Avneet proved difficult to execute against Sphinx’s organised defence, the Panthers continued to threaten on the break. Sphinx added to their tally through a well-taken set piece and a moment of confusion at the back. Despite trailing, the Panthers impressed with their passing, bravery in the tackle, and exciting movement. Defenders Jodh, Roop and Khloe battled tirelessly, doing their best to move the ball into advanced areas. 2nd Half - fresh rotations saw the Panthers reshuffle and the changes made an immediate impact. Roop drove forward from midfield, linking with Elizabeth, who managed to register a shot on goal. As the Panthers pushed higher up the pitch, they became more vulnerable to counters, but the defensive trio stayed strong to protect new keeper Avneet. When called upon, Avneet showed safe hands and excellent speed off her line. As fatigue set in, the Panthers continued to show heart. In the final minutes, a defensive mix-up from Sphinx presented Roop with a golden opportunity for a consolation goal, but the goalkeeper reacted quickly to deny her. Despite the scoreline, the Panthers delivered a performance full of effort, bravery and entertaining football. Every player embraced new roles, supported their teammates and demonstrated fantastic resilience. A big well done to all the girls — their attitude and spirit were superb.

SATURDAY – BOYS

The rain couldn't dampen spirits for the Under 7 Tigers this weekend. We went into the game knowing that opponents, Coventry Sphinx, were the only team in the division to have beaten last week’s opponents Vision. The billing didn't disappoint. Two strong teams going toe-to-toe, demonstrating strength and skill across the pitch. The game started well. As expected, the Tigers were pressed by a physical Sphinx team, but stayed composed and supported each other. Uday took control of defence, covering every inch of his half with strong tackles and clever interceptions. Tobias occupied the right of the pitch and covered well to support at the back when it was needed. His forward press saw him net the first goal of the game. The rest of the first half remained goalless, both teams working hard to keep one another at bay and the goalkeepers being a big part of this. The second half saw the Tigers take more of their opportunities, promptly securing a further three goals through David (2) and Cameron (1). David took the role of striker with incredible energy and desire to win the ball at every opportunity. His persistence paid off as he won a free kick just outside the opposition’s penalty area. David stepped up for a fine strike, cleanly lifting the ball up and over the keeper into the net. This attitude secured him a well-deserved Player of the Match trophy. With powerplay now implemented for Cov Sphinx, the pressure mounted. As captain this week, Rehmat was now orchestrating the team from between the sticks. Tobias showed great game awareness in defence, evidenced by a dramatic goal-line clearance. Despite this, the opposition clawed a goal back before the final 10mins saw the teams trade goals to leave the Tigers with a well-earned and rewarding victory. A special thanks to the parents for their Silent Support throughout the game too.

Under 8 Lions vs CTK Red – The Lions came into the game full of confidence after securing their first win in their new division. However, the match didn’t start the way they had hoped, with CTK Red scoring a few early goals that caused the boys’ heads to drop. Despite playing much of the game with a power play, the Lions struggled to get close to their opponents in the first half. In the second half, they showed real improvement, closing down players quicker and building more pressure. Theo pulled one back for the Lions with a well-taken goal, and Sahib added another soon after. Unfortunately, the comeback came too late for the Lions to turn the match around. Player of the Match: Theo – He showed fantastic attitude and energy throughout the game, constantly working hard to lift his teammates and push the Lions forward.

SUNDAY – BOYS

GNP Under 9 Tigers and Coventry Sphinx played out a tight and competitive encounter that ended all square. The first half offered few clear chances for either side, with both teams cancelling each other out and heading into the break goalless. Sphinx came out stronger in the second half, applying early pressure that forced a GNP own goal to break the deadlock. But the Tigers showed real character, pushing back and refusing to let the game slip away. Their persistence paid off when Aron spotted a gap and unleashed a superb strike to level the score, earning the Tigers a well deserved draw. Aron's decisive finish and all-round work rate earned him a well-deserved Player of the Match award.

Under 9 Pumas hosted Mount Nod for the first time this season. We were on the back-foot from the start, with the opposition dominating possession from the start. Srihan started in goal and kept us in the game with some fantastic saves, but we were undone with a long-range shot. We then conceded another as a result of some ineffective defending. After the break, we got back into the game and started dominating possession, but conceded yet again, this time due to a goalkeeping error. However, our midfield and forwards started combining well, and we scored two goals in quick succession - first from a corner by Srihan which went over the keeper and landing at Hugh’s feet for a tap in, and second from a great through-ball by Srihan for Eshaanvir to run onto and slot pass the keeper. While pushing for a draw, we conceded another goal in the dying seconds which put the game beyond our reach. Although a loss, it was a really solid performance and the boys did so well, and we were unlucky not to get anything from the game.

Under 11 Tigers visited Panjab Athletic. The game started slow with little chances created, it took a freekick against the run of play for the home side to take the lead. A defensive error soon after resulted in a second goal. Following a tactical switch GNP got themselves back in the game with two goals from Harry. However, another error at the back led to a third goal for the home side. GNP wasted a great chance on the counter attack to pull level before half time. The second half started well for GNP with some positive football creating chances. However, the home side scored soon after and started to dominate. There was little joy in the second half for the boys and one to forget. PotM went to Akaalvir for his determination throughout the match.