Another massive Cup weekend, with THREE GNP boys teams contesting Trophy Event Finals, and the girls non competitive age groups still competing in their group stages. Our Under 9 Pumas and Under 11 Pumas were both triumphant in their Finals with some truly magical moments, whilst the Under 9 Lions narrowly missed out despite a brave effort! A special shout out this week also to our amazing Under 10 Panthers Girls who played 2 tough opponents in 3 days to finish top of a really challenging trophy event group, and earn a quarter final spot as Group Winners! A huge congratulations to all of the teams!

THURSDAY - GIRLS

GNP Under 10 Panthers vs Northfield Town. This was a last-minute Trophy Event match put in for midweek in Birmingham to make up for the recently cancelled game. It needed to be played before the end of the round for the U10s Spring Trophy Event. The 1st half saw a slightly slow start for the Panthers, unsurprising given the circumstances around timing and travel. The opposition were organised, energised and communicating well from the first kick off. Within 3 minutes, Northfield seared through the GNP defence and struck a powerful shot which Poppy parried, unfortunately it landed in the path of the onrushing striker. The Panthers responded by pulling together and fighting back. There were numerous shots on target on both sides, all saved at both ends and defended well. There were some frantic tackles, corners and throw ins making for a nail-biting match. The second half was peppered with some near misses. The light was fading and the tension was high. The girls worked so well as a team and never gave up. A gap in the defence for Northfield, saw Roop snatch another opportunity, powering forward and finishing with a convincing solo goal. Only a minute remained, and the girls ended with a seriously hard fought and worthy draw, putting them second in the table at this stage. Well done to Roop who was PotM, and to the whole team - a valiant effort!

SATURDAY - GIRLS

GNP Under 10 Panthers hosted higher tier Coundon Court Red in a hotly anticipated game in the final group game with top spot in their Trophy Event group up for grabs. The game got off to a quick and well contested start. A nice team move culminated in a superb pass from Anaiya to Elizabeth, delivering a quick 1st goal. Some superb defending from Lily and Aish with excellent midfield defence and drive from Rhea, Khloe and a couple of brilliant saves from Poppy kept the game 1-0. Panthers continued with strong all round play with Rhea finding a hole in defence, locating Jodh in a brilliant position who struck sweetly for the team's 2nd goal! Coundon Court fought back hard and struck twice to bring the game level. Panthers, however were determined, and played as a better all round unit than the opposition. The second half was high energy. Some fresh legs on the pitch gave GNP the edge, and with a tough second half coming to a close, Aish took the chance to travel with the ball from the halfway line and score the winning goal! The Panthers were superb to secure this win and their place at the top of the table, and on their way to knockouts for the first time! Well done girls. Rhea was named PotM but every team member had a big part to play in this victory.

The Under 13 Panthers were up against Stratford Town Blues (STB). STB applied strong early pressure and were well on top for the first 15 minutes before the Panthers were awarded a penalty. Mankirat slotted this home perfectly and the Panthers were on their way. With a slim lead heading into the second half, the Panthers defended valiantly with Avani leading the back 4. There was then an excellent move from the back from Orna to Ekham to Anayah who then passed to Hannah for a well taken 2nd goal. Mankirat then lead a solo effort powering down the left wing to keep going towards goal passing 3 opposition players to score her second of the match. Hannah, who had a fantastic overall game, also scored her second of the game with the Panthers winning 4-0. The scoreline doesn’t quite reflect how competitive a match it was.

Panthers under 11 girls was on the wrong side of the scoreline away to Redditch Borough. In an even first half, chances were few and far between , the best falling to Suvreet for the Panthers, who fired wide from the angle after a nice through ball from Tianna. The Panthers defence was solid throughout the first half with Sheena, Annabel and Peyton rock solid. It was 0-0 at the break. 2nd half Panthers again showing plenty of endeavour but were unfortunate to fall behind to a dubious penalty kick which was duly converted. Legs tired a little after that with Panthers only having 9 players and Redditch able to freshen up at will. Redditch added a further 2 goals which really did flatter them on the scoreline. All in all, GNP on another day, could overturn this result against the same opposition and even though they took a loss, they never stopped trying.

SATURDAY - BOYS

The Under 9 Pumas faced Rugby Borough away in the Mid Warwickshire League Trophy Event final. Starting strong, the Pumas quickly found their rhythm, with Harvey opening the scoring early, followed by a goal from Kandes. However, the opposition proved clinical, capitalizing on two chances to bring the score level. Arveer played some great passes upfield from his box to the attackers. At halftime, the Pumas remained resilient and determined to maintain their attacking intensity. They stepped up the pressure, and Sunny fired them ahead with a powerful shot into the corner. The defense (Zak,Yash, Jaiden, Ife, Nirvair) held firm, shutting down opposition attacks while delivering excellent passes upfield. Musa then extended the lead after a swift counterattack, and Kandes secured his second goal, scoring from a penalty rebound. This dominant performance capped off an incredible cup run, with the Pumas emerging as well-deserved winners. Every player gave their all on the pitch, showcasing the hard work and dedication they had put into training and matches leading up to the final. POTM Kandes, for his outstanding work rate and two crucial goals. Well done, Pumas - a fantastic achievement!

Under 9 Lions headed south to play Stratford Town Knights in a tense Mid Warwickshire League Trophy Event Final. The boys started strong, pressing from the off. Nikhil & Veer fed the ball along the wings playing it into the box for Fakhir and Sahib. The Lions continued to win corners and kick ins testing a strong Knights keeper and defence. On the counter the Knights crossed a ball into the box striking Fakhir, resulting in an unfortunate penalty decision, giving them the lead, which they doubled by half time. Arjun, Manroop & Giyaan all provided strong support to Sehaj to hold off the Knights. A long ball played forward gave Sahib the break to slot one comfortably past the keeper, narrowing the deficit. Spurred on, the boys continued to battle and create chances, but the Knights found a gap in our defence to push the game out of the Lions reach. PotM awarded to Fakhir for a solid all round performance in a pressure game. The boys did incredibly well against a strong, physical team, ending our 7 match unbeaten streak at the final hurdle! Well done Lions!

GNP Under 12 Tigers faced a crucial game vs Claverdon who led Tigers by 4 points in the table going into the tie. Both teams started brightly with Tigers pinning Claverdon in their area. However it was the visitors who had the better chances to break the deadlock. GNP finally opened the scoring through Muhamadou, who scored two goals before HT. Going into the second half the tally was increased to three via a nice goal by Josiah however, Claverdon were not finished and pegged GNP back to 3-1. GNP continued to push forward and see out the game and were rewarded with goals from Aman and PotM Muhamadou, completing his hat trick. 6 games left and Tigers now find themselves nicely positioned for a big title push.

Under 9 Jaguars played against St Peters Celtic Dragon away. The game started off with the opposition getting the better of us scoring early and then quickly doubling their lead. Our boys switched the gears after this goal and some great play between our attacking trio of Angad, Agam and Raylan. Raylan was able to get the Jaguars on the scoresheet. Agam was through with some great through balls from Raylan and Angad however on both occasions he was unlucky and hit the post. The opposition got one back due to lapse in concentration however Agam got a goal just before the half time whistle to reduce the deficit. Second half, we started strong however the opposition with their counter attack, were able to break through to create a healthy lead. After a few goals from the opposition, the Jaguars were not deterred as they kept pressing. Again in the 2nd half Rayan and Raylan both hit the post before Raylan scored and got himself a brace. Well done Jaguars - the boys fought hard and were applauded off the pitch for the effort by the referee and opposition parents.

GNP Under 8 Tigers delivered a great performance against SoccerRockz. Tigers dominated large parts of the game from the off with SoccerRockz having their moments. Overall GNP were too strong with Gurshaan scoring a hat trick. Neal and Bishoy also chipped in with well taken goals. Arjun was PotM for his passing out of defence and resolute defending.

Under 8 Lions played against Stratford Town on Saturday with a united front. After a few defeats the boys played this game with conviction and passion. Louie started the scoring with a fantastic opening goal, strengthening the boys resolve. Sam followed with a goal from beyond the half way line whilst Harvey took advantage of confusion near the goal to add to the scoreboard. However, it did not remain a clear sheet as the opposition fought back. Leo was able to add his mark with a superb goal. The boys worked really well together, with flawless cohesion and supporting each other. All the boys contributed equally to this standout performance. Three cheers for the Lions!

Under 8 Jaguars hosted Mount Nod Lightning and came out on top in another high scoring affair. Goals this week from Bobby (2), Isaac, Theo, Stan, Mithun and an own goal. Bobby was awarded PotM. Well played Jaguars!

Under 8 Pumas played at home against Racing Club Warwick. It was a very close game against a well-drilled opposition who came with an impressive high-press strategy. However, our defence held strong and our keepers (Dayal in the first half and Jeevan in the second) were brilliant. Racing Club Warwick scored late in the first half and then again early in the second, but we tried to push and press in the latter stages of the game. We had a breakthrough when their keeper parried a powerful shot from Dayal, with Kishan pouncing on the loose ball and scoring our only goal. Although we lost the game and our five-game unbeaten run came to an end, it was a much better showing than the severe loss at their ground earlier in the season, which just shows how much progress our boys are making!

Under 7 Lions vs Hillmorton Dragons - on a sunny Saturday morning the Lions travelled to Rugby to play Hillmorton, Opening 10 mins saw GNP dominate the game Theo on the left wing saw a lot of possession driving down the flank at every opportunity cutting in onto his right to get shots away. The Lions managed to find the breakthrough with Dhillan finishing calmly in the box when the ball broke to him. The 2nd quarter saw Dev and Kiaan come on to show great energy - non stop pressure from the boys. The second half Hillmorton managed to get themselves level & soon after they took the lead. Thomas and Jagraaj gave it their all to try get the Lions level driving forward past the opposition producing fine saves from the home keeper. The last 10 mins saw GNP play the best football they have all season - great passing and pressure from them. Player of the match Elliott played the ball forward for Dhillan to run on to and finish coolly to bring the Lions level. Elliott stood tall and strong in defence, winning every tackle and even driving forward with the ball to take the Lions up the pitch - an outstanding performance from him!

Under 7 Tigers played out an entertaining draw with Firefighters Juniors at home. Goals were scored by Rhys, Aron & Lucas.

Under 6s hosted new opponents in Dallas Burston FC. The small squad of Joban, Tobias, Cameron, Lucas, Marsels and Uday put on a strong performance in a competitive opening period. Dallas took the lead but GNP hit back, led, in particular by an inspirational performance from Tobias. On the day he scored 4 himself and set up countless goals for others as well as putting in a real defensive shift. Once the boys built a lead they were seemingly unstoppable, even when the opponents added a 6th player to proceedings through the Powerplay rule. Joban, Cameron, Uday and Lucas all added a couple of goals each to seal another impressive performance from GNP's newest team!

SUNDAY - BOYS

Under 11 Pumas were in action in their Pool C Trophy Event final vs Atherstone Rangers Adders. Both teams were up for the challenge with entertaining football on show. The Pumas took the lead through a long throw in from Maaven which Ziyyad connected to, sliding in a slick pass to Lekan, who drove through with pace before poking it past the keeper. Moments later Atherstone took a shot from outside the box the ball bobbled out of Sam’s (GK) hands and ended up in the back of the net. Super sub Jaxx had just come on to the pitch and again a long throw in to the box from Maaven allowed Jaxx to nip in onto a flick on and hit the ball high into the net. At half time Pumas went in leading the game. The 2nd half was very eventful with Atherstone getting a 2nd goal within minutes of kick off before adding a third soon after to nick the lead. The Pumas never gave up and managed to get back in to the game. A cross from Shivan in to the box allowed Lekan to control and hit the ball on the turn for the equaliser! The game was all level at this point. Both teams continued to battle hard with Sam continuing to make some fantastic saves and defensively Pumas stayed strong. The winning goal for the Pumas followed after some great individual play again from Lekan driving down the left, beating the defence, cutting inside and then placing the ball calmly into the bottom corner! What a moment!! The Pumas held on until the final whistle winning the game 4-3. Pumas went on to lift the trophy. This was a magical moment for the players & everyone linked to the team, becoming champions of this competition. Congratulations Pumas!!

GNP Under 16s came up against Whitley who the team faced 2 weeks ago where they won away 6-2. This game could effectively end Whitley's title hopes while strengthening our own. The 10am KO and the clocks change meant it wasn't an ideal start with the team having to start the game with 10 players. The first late arrival arrived after 10 mins and had an instant impact as Nana set up Archie after 15 mins to go 1-0 up. The remainder of the half the boys remained in control of the game but couldn't increased the lead. 15 mins into the 2nd half Tom setup up Amrit to score his first goal of the season and a crucial one to make it 2-0. 5 mins later Whitley scored a goal to bring it back to 2-1 and were creeping back into the game. Nevertheless, 5 mins later Tyler scored a goal direct from a corner to increase the lead and get back some control back in the game. Tom scored a superb header with 7 mins to go with a corner delivery from Tyler. 7 games to go for GNP Under 16s and a title to win, with things firmly in their own hands.

Under 14 Tigers visited Rugby Borough Pumas and the boys were on top form for this game, playing some great football and keeping the game mainly in the other teams half. The team passed well and created chances, this week managing to convert them into goals, with the boys dominating the game. Well done to the goal scorers Manveer, Hawon (2) & Max. Final score 0-4 GNP.

Under 13 Tigers visited CHESS Lions eager to continue their fine winning form and chase a slim remaining chance of reaching the Top 2 in the league. As the game got underway, it became clear it was going to be a difficult day. A combination of windy conditions and a rock-hard, bare pitch saw both teams struggling to get things under control with the ball constantly flying out for throw ins. Our substitutions made an immediate impact - from a back pass, keeper Wiktor launched a kick down the left - Muhamadou, who had just come on, picked up the ball and touched it past the 1st defender along the touchline before showing blistering pace to cut in and advance on goal. He then made no mistake by powering his shot past the keeper at the near post - what a great goal!! Sadly, immediately after GNP conceded a corner. The centre back rose to power a header off the crossbar before the rebound was dispatched just over Wiktor's despairing dive 1-1. The Tigers responded well and created some good chances. Saavun fed Harman S who beat the keeper but was ruled offside, before Aaron D laid the ball off nicely for Harman B who thought he had placed the ball wide of the keeper, before the keeper dived and made a fine save. The middle of the game was a scrappy affair with GNP looking the most likely to score. Muhamadou's 1v1 battle with the CHEES keeper saw the goalie save bravely, before Aaron D struck the post with his shot on the rebound. The final 3 minutes of the game saw the CHESS goal under constant attack. Cinar's high, looping free kick was clawed away by the goalie, 2 fantastic crosses by Arjun & Enoch were headed wide/over by Emmanuel and Muhamadou was denied again. A good effort by the Tigers but a frustrating result at the end! PotM went to Harshaan, who was put in some difficult situations at left centre back throughout the game, but always came out with the ball against a difficult opponent.

Under 12 Pumas were up against Christ The King Rovers. Another controlling performance by the Pumas, in another game where they should have hit double figures. Nathan added to his already impressive tally for the season, giving the Pumas the lead. Nathan was heavily involved in the 2nd Pumas goal where he laid off a pass to Aiden who struck from just inside the penalty area to put the Pumas 2-0 up. Nathan then added his 2nd of the game, and the Pumas 3rd, beating several players down the right wing striking from the tightest of angles to put the Pumas 3 up, going into the half time break. Much the same in the 2nd half for the Pumas, Pumas adding a 4th with a neat 1|2 between Nathan and Armaan , Armaan slipping it past the keeper. CTK did manage to pull one goal back when the defence went AWOL from a long ball forward, clearing the GNP last man for a one on one with the Pumas keeper. The CTK striker placed his shot into the corner for a consolation goal. Final score 4-1.

Under 11 Lions were at home against Grove Farm. Having faced them in the recent Trophy event, we knew it was going to be a tough game against a very competitive and well drilled team. The first half started pretty even, with GNP creating some really good positions but not able to get onto the scoresheet. Grove Farm capitalised with a couple of goals before half time. All credit to the Lions, they conceded a 3rd in the 2nd half but did not let their heads drop and continued to battle for every ball. Grove Farm had a bit too much for us today, but the boys can hold their heads high. Man of the match went to Veeran for a solid display in defence. It’s been a tough run for the Lions with some difficult trophy games and facing one of the top tier 2 teams today, results have been hard to find, but hopefully the coming weeks can bring some better results.

Under 10 Tigers hosted Rugby Tigers off the back of last week's Trophy Event success. The Tigers started the game with purpose, pressing high up the pitch, looking to play in the opponents half. After a number of half chances were created for Nathaniel, Akaalvir and Harrison, it was Harrison who finally opened the scoring for the hosts. 10mins later the away side levelled with a rare counter attack, shortly after Sohan supplied a sublime cross which Akaalvir narrowly put wide. In the second half the Tigers continued to get chances, it was Harrison once again who gave the Tigers a deserved lead. As the half went on, the Tigers started to sit deeper. From a throw in, which should have been dealt with better, the away side scored, which proved to be the last goal of the game. That's 8 games unbeaten now for the Tigers, great progress for a team that seems to be improving each week.

U9 Tigers were away to Hillmorton Blues. The Tigers started the game on top and kept pressing Hillmorton with some great play between Salman, Arveer and Josiah. Ollie impressed with his corners and long range kicks meanwhile Rivan held the defence together well. Joban was unlucky on a couple of occasions with his efforts on goal. Just before half time though, with the Tigers pressing too high, they got caught out and conceded a goal just before half time. Second half saw the momentum shifting towards Hillmorton, and with no subs, the Tigers gave it their all, but conceded another couple.