CWYL Autumn Trophy Events held centre stage in the boys Under 8 and Under 9 age groups. A few of our teams were playing in their first such event, but the Under 8 Tigers weren’t and they managed to top their 4-team group and progress through to the knockout rounds/Finals Day next week at Copsewood! Good luck boys!
In league action the Under 16 Girls grabbed a great away win at Shamrock to continue their superb unbeaten start to the season. The Under 15 Tigers won their top of the table Div B clash with a narrow 2-1 win over Chapelfields thanks to a goal from super-sub Aaron Dhaliwal!
Our Under 12 Lions and Under 13 Jaguars also both won again to leave them well placed in the early season push for promotion. Meanwhile our Under 15 Pumas got off the mark with their first 3 points of the season!
All the match action is rounded up below.

SATURDAY – GIRLS

Under 16 Panthers visited local rivals Shamrock FC and came away with a brilliant 3-1 win. The win leaves them unbeaten after 4 games and only 2pts off the top of the table.
The GNP Under 10 Warriors played away against a good Sky Blues team. Warriors started the game quickly and with real purpose, scoring several goals in the first half, with Siya, Millie and Khivi all getting on the scoresheet. The 2nd half saw some excellent passages of passing football, with the team linking up well and bringing plenty of what they had worked on in training onto the pitch. Abi, Khivi and Siya all found the back of the net, while Mihar capped off a fantastic performance with a wonderful hat-trick. It was a commanding win for the Warriors, built on a strong team performance. Most pleasingly, there were plenty of signs that the lessons from the training ground are transferring into matches. Well done, Warriors!

Under 9 Panthers

Under 13 Panthers

Under 15 Panthers were away to the best team in the league by far, Worcester City. The writing was on the wall after the home team scored within 2 minutes. The goals kept coming for Worcester as we headed into half time 6-0. The Panthers put a proper shift in but they were still full of smiles knowing the 2nd half was going to be even tougher. With no subs for GNP and plenty for the opposition, they dug deep. Lizzy had chances and most of these created by herself which was amazing. Praise also deserves a special mention with her relentless energy. All in all, GNP played a team which will be Champions with the match finishing 11-0 but their application, smiles and resilience will hold them in good stead. Highlight was probably the amazing hospitality from our hosts, providing chicken nuggets and chips for the teams in the clubhouse after the match!

SATURDAY – BOYS

The Under 8 Tigers traveled away to LE Coaching Vipers, who hosted the 4-team Autumn Trophy Event Group stage. Tigers vs. LE Vipers - The Vipers struck first with a deflected goal after catching the Tigers on the break. The Tigers fought back fiercely, with David scoring the equaliser. While pressing hard for a winning goal, the Tigers were unfortunately caught out on a corner, conceding an unopposed finish. Tigers vs. Ambleside Athletico - The boys put on a sensational performance. Lucas was sharp and ready whenever called upon in goal, releasing the ball for the Tigers offense. The attack was unstoppable, with multiple goals from both Uday and David securing a dominant victory. Tigers vs. CTK - With a spot in the semi-finals on the line, Gian and Cameron put on a masterclass with a brilliant defensive display. Goals from Rehmet and Uday rewarded the team's hard work with a well-deserved win. Well done Tigers, on to the semi-finals! Player of the Tournament awarded to Cameron, for his fantastic application of everything the team has been practicing in training.
Under 8 Lions Trophy Event was held at Sphinx and the boys gave it their all in a morning full of goals!! Unfortunately they fell on the wrong side of the scorelines this time, losing out 2-4, 2-4 and 2-3.

Under 8 Pumas hosted in their first ever Trophy Event against teams from Vision, Leamington Foundation & SoccerRockz. It wasn’t to be, with GNP losing all 3 games narrowly, perhaps struggling to settle in the shorter 15 min games. Nevertheless a great experience for the boys.

Under 12 Lions started brightly with the intensity levels high, but it was Hampton who made the early breakthrough. An unfortunate miscontrolled pass back to the keeper saw the ball trickle over the line to give the hosts a 1–0 lead. The response from the Lions was immediate. Showing great character, they went straight up the other end where Josh smashed home a lovely left-footed finish to make it 1–1. From there, the Lions found their rhythm and produced some excellent passages of play, moving the ball effectively and confidently playing out from the back. A number of dangerous attacks forced the opposition keeper into some important saves before Josh grabbed his second to give the Lions the lead going into the break. The 2nd half saw more of the same, with the Lions creating wave after wave of attacks. Josh completed a superb hat-trick, before Hampton were awarded a soft penalty. Elliot produced a fantastic penalty save at a crucial point in the game to keep the Lions firmly in control. The Lions continued to push forward, with Jude adding another two goals to complete an excellent 5–2 away victory. Joint Man of the Match: Finn & Elliot; Finn produced another outstanding performance at the heart of the defence, while Elliot was excellent between the posts, topped off by his superb penalty save. Another strong performance, 3 pts and plenty of positives for GNP.

Under 11 Lions continued their winning form away against Hockley Heath. A strong start saw Nikhil fly down the wing, passing onto Caleb, whose shot was pushed away by the keeper for Sahib easily to put away. The next opportunity saw Ksawery kick in to Sahib who doubled our lead. The Lions were caught off guard as Hockley Heath grabbed a quick goal from the 2nd half whistle, but their celebrations were short lived as the Lions opened the floodgates holding possession and peppering the goal with shots. Caleb was denied again but Veer capitalised on the loose ball. Nikhil crossed in from a corner to get Yuvraaj onto the scoresheet. A long ball from Sehaj allowed Caleb to make a great run at goal to get a deserving goal. The Lions gave Hockley Heath a few moments of peace before the final onslaught which saw a cross from Ksawery to the back post for Nikhil to net. Ksawery then got on the scoresheet twice, the first from Sahib pass and the second a cross by Nikhil. Whilst Sehaj, Manroop, Arjun, Callum and Wahid ensured our goal was protected. Nikhil was awarded PoTM for his strong performance on the wing and playing a great attacking role alongside Veer, Yuvraaj, Caleb, Ksawery and Sahib. Another excellent team performance - well done Lions!

Under 11 Jaguars put in a strong performance against Stratford but were unlucky not to come away with something from the game. Jaguars started brightly, with Marc opening the scoring after a great assist from Reggie. The boys continued to attack and create opportunities, and were unlucky not to add to their lead during the 1st half. Unfortunately, a lapse in concentration allowed Stratford to get back into the game before half-time. Jaguars started the 2nd half on the back foot, with Stratford scoring twice in quick succession. However, the boys responded brilliantly and switched up a gear, showing great character and determination. Reggie pulled another goal back to give Jaguars hope, while Angad came agonisingly close to an equaliser when his effort struck the crossbar. The boys played really well and showed great fight throughout the game. The result was disappointing, but the performance and character shown, especially in the 2nd half, were positives to take forward. On another day, the chances could have gone our way, but we can be proud of the effort from everyone.

Under 11 Pumas vs Leek Wootton Colts. GNP Pumas started the game positively and defended well during the opening stages. Finnan had GNP’s first notable opportunity, striking from outside the penalty area, but the Colts keeper made the save. GNP then won a corner, delivered by Ajeet. The Colts keeper was unable to hold onto the ball, allowing Sunny to react quickly and score, putting GNP ahead. Finnan continued to create opportunities, but the Pumas couldn’t double their lead. Leek Wootton created pressure of their own, but Eric stood strong and made a good save to keep GNP ahead. A handball by GNP then resulted in a penalty for Leek Wootton, which was converted to bring the score level. Colts started the 2nd half strongly, but Eric made two important saves within the opening five minutes to keep the scores level. GNP continued to look for a 2nd but were denied by the keeper. Colts then broke through and scored to take the lead. The momentum then moved in their favour as they added a few further goals at the end of match. Despite the final scoreline, GNP produced a competitive first-half performance, defended well during the opening stages and created several good opportunities. Eric PotM for a number of important saves throughout the match.

Under 10 Jaguars played away to Sky Blues in the Community Hawks and, despite going behind early, it was far from a game where the Hawks were the better side. The Jaguars were playing some of the best football they’ve produced, with quick, slick attacking play and chances coming from all over the pitch. Isaac was brilliant, scoring all three goals and deservedly picking up PoTM for his positioning, positivity and leadership. Emaad, Leo, Mithun and Varun were causing problems out wide, while Theo and Anwar linked up well up front, and Bobby, Seva and Stan worked tirelessly at the back. Freddie was also making his usual worldie saves and distributing the ball brilliantly. The ball seemed to hit the post every five minutes and with the chances they created, the Jaguars could easily have come away with the win. A frustrating result, but one of those games where they could walk away incredibly proud of the football they played.

SUNDAY – BOYS

Under 18s visited early league leaders Christ the King. They conceded early again in the game but pulled things back to 1-1, before CTK edged ahead again. The game stayed at 2-1 for some time before Kings closed out the game with 2 goals late on. The team will be keen to learn from the mistakes and start to get some league points on the board.

Under 15 Tigers entered a top-of-the-table clash with Chapelfields Colts in confident form, but knowing this was likely to be their toughest test to date. So it proved! The GNP lads struck early with a fired-up Dylan making a marauding run down the right wing, cutting it back for Ayden whose shot was half-blocked – striker Jasper was on hand to take the rebound and lash it high into the net from close range for his 4th goal in 4 games. Dylan continued to be influential in creating further chances. Ayden went closest when racing clear but sliding his shot narrowly wide. Chapelfields had plenty of play themselves but the back 3 of Enoch, Harshaan & Emmanuel made key interventions to deny any clear chances. The visitors looked most dangerous from set pieces and it was a corner that was flicked on which resulted in a Colts header on target which Wiktor unfortunately let slip out of his hands and over the line. 2nd half, the substitution of Aaron D onto the pitch after 45 mins in an unfamiliar left wing back position created the decisive moment of the match. The impressive Cinar & Dylan combined on the right and Dylan floated in a dangerous ball to the back post. Aaron D took it down and finished sharply into the bottom corner with his first touch! Emmanuel and Aaron D had further chances but the final 15 mins became a real scrap with Harman B cleaning up the bits and pieces in midfield with his aggression and intensity and the defence standing firm.

Under 15 Pumas hosted Nuneaton Town Whites in a match between two teams yet to get off the mark. The GNP team put on a dominant performance but the match stayed in the balance thanks to a superb performance from the Nuneaton keeper. Thankfully the Pumas did put away two of their chances and prevailed for 3 crucial points. Final score GNP 2-1 Nuneaton Town

Under 15 Lions visited a struggling Chetwynd Cobras looking to rebound from a bad loss last week. GNP created the lion’s share of the chances but couldn’t convert on a difficult pitch. The Cobras left winger was a constant danger and had a great battle with Theo. Unfortunately a long goal kick was flicked on by the striker, latched onto by the winger and squared perfectly for an easy finish to give Chetwynd the lead. GNP continued to create chances with Savvy, Sahib, Kenneth, Filip and Rikhil all going close but ultimately proved wasteful, making the keeper’s life easy. 2nd half, GNP strangely struggled to get the momentum they badly needed. Nevertheless, clear chances were created. Chengwu had a strong shot well saved and Filip, Savvy, Kenneth & Rikhil all found themselves in 1v1s with the goalkeeper but every single shot was desperately mis-hit to a grateful goalkeeper. The fruitless chase for an equaliser left gaps at the back and Chetwynd grabbed a 2nd goal to kill things off with just 2 mins to go. A really disappointing outcome in a game GNP could have won 3 times over with better shooting!

The Under 14 Pumas produced a strong all-round performance to book their place in the next round of the cup with a deserved 2-1 victory over Racing Club Warwick Black. With Harrison unavailable through injury, JJ and Armaan stepped in well in goal, while Mayo and Bahadar controlled the midfield throughout. Playing a 4-4-2 formation for the first time, Evan and Layton linked up brilliantly up front, creating plenty of chances. Nathan opened the scoring before half-time after rounding the goalkeeper, following a superb long ball from Ricky. He then added a second after the break as the Pumas continued to dominate. RCW Black pulled one back from a corner, but it proved only a consolation. Player of the Match: Bahadar. Goals: Nathan (2). The win sends the Pumas into the next round of the cup.

Under 13 Jaguars returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 3–1 victory over Coventry Saracens, securing their third win from the opening four games and keeping them close to the promotion places. The Jaguars started slowly and went 1–0 down, but showed great character to turn the game around. After creating several chances before half-time, Victor equalised early in the 2nd half with a brilliant lob following a superb kick from Finlay. The Jaguars then took control, with Victor winning a penalty that Ahmed confidently converted into the top corner. Ahmed then added another shortly afterwards to complete a strong second-half comeback and a deserved win in the end. There were good performances across the team, with Finlay doing well in goal, a solid defensive display and plenty of hard work in midfield. Victor was named Player of the Match for his relentless running, goal, penalty won and constant threat throughout the game.

GNP Under 13 Lions faced Bedworth United, a familiar opponent from Division A last season, with both sides now competing in Division B. The Lions dominated the first half with a high-tempo performance and deservedly led at the break through a fantastic strike from Athrv, although their performance warranted more than a one-goal advantage. The 2nd half was more evenly contested and two defensive lapses, coupled with a couple of debatable free-kick decisions which led to goals, saw Bedworth turn the game around before eventually winning 3–1. Another encouraging performance from the Lions who, with a little more cutting edge in front of goal and a bit more luck, will surely turn these positive displays into winning results.

A tough afternoon for the Under 13 Pumas as they went down 2–0 at home to a feisty Hinkley FC side in a very physical and competitive game. The scoreline didn’t reflect the boys’ performance, with the Pumas creating plenty of chances. Faris tested the Hinkley keeper with a free kick, while Sam made a great save at the other end. Lekan also broke through the Hinckley defence but was unlucky not to finish, and the opposition keeper made another good save to keep it 0–0 at half-time. The 2nd half remained very even until Hinckley broke through to score an opener. Shortly afterwards, they doubled their lead with an effort that went in off the crossbar. The boys continued to battle until the final whistle. A disappointing result, but plenty of positives to take from a performance full of effort, determination and character.

Under 13 Tigers headed to Bulkington to face top-of-the-table Coventry United. In what proved to be a very physical, difficult match for the Tigers there were some moments of excellent play and a few unlucky strikes on the woodwork. Throughout the match, Declan worked hard on the wing despite being fouled multiple times, Ahmed held strong in defence. MOTM went to Thomson for tireless work in midfield.

Under 11 Tigers were away to Chapelfield Colts. The Tigers dominated early possession but the Colts held their own. Veer then broke the deadlock with a powerful strike that the keeper couldn’t quite keep out. The home team, slightly taken aback by the goal, then panicked in defence and conceded an unfortunate own goal. With the Tigers sensing that the Colts were on the ropes, Arveer then drove forward in his powerful style and drove home another. With 3 goals within 10 minutes, the Tigers continued to press although showing great discipline in defence. Ollie was in top form as always along with Adam and Felix striking up a great understanding between them. Going into the second half, Arveer and Rajan linked up well with Rajan scoring. A change in formation such was the lead allowed additional opportunities for players to be in different positions. With Tyrae recently starring on the wing, he played as a striker and laid a great opportunity for Man of the Match Veer to score another. Rajan followed up with another 2 goals to grab his hat trick and the game was over. A dominating performance by the Tigers who supported one another brilliantly.

GNP Under 10 Lions played against PA Sports FC. The boys were the stronger side in this match and played in a cohesive manner. Harnam scored the first goal in the 1st half. In the 2nd half the team gathered mometum with a spectacular goal from Harvey; shot from outside the box, closely followed by another goal by Dayal. Harnam and Balraj earned bragging rights against their school friends playing for the opposition - keep up the good work boys!

The Under 10 Pumas were away to the Coventrians Phoenix team on a bright sunny Sunday. Both teams started well but, as the first half went on, it started to get a little one-sided. The opposition’s pace caused us to defend deep. They broke the deadlock halfway through the first half and then scored two more in quick succession. We made some changes at half time which looked like it would stem the tide, but we found it difficult to get out of our own half as we had to defend while having no outlet up front. As we were pushing, we unfortunately conceded two more goals late in the game, but the scoreline did not reflect the effort and hard work that all the boys put in throughout the match

GNP Under 9 Pumas headed to Bablake Playing Fields for their first Trophy Event experience. The boys started strongly against Copsewood Tigers, with Harmilun scoring an early goal. Angad made some fantastic saves before unfortunately having to come off injured. Against Coventry Phoenix Blitz and CTK Green, the Pumas found it difficult to break out of defence and create chances, but Jake made some excellent saves to keep the boys in the games. Although the results didn’t go our way, it was a valuable first tournament experience and a great learning opportunity for the team. We’ll take the lessons from the day, keep working hard and continue developing the boys.