Spartans U9s 4 KYPC Panthers 1 - Match Report

This turned out to be a very tough game against an opposition who had improved since our last meeting. 

The game started with both sides having fairly even possession, but it was Spartans who opened the scoring.Joe Todd took a corner from the right and a Panther defender was unlucky to knock it into his own net at the near post.This allowed Spartans to settle a little bit and they put more pressure on.Lewis Best came in from the left hand side of the box and shot at goal. The keeper got both hands to it and pushed it out, straight to an advancing Lewis Parker who calmly put it back over him and into the net to make it 2-0.Panthers came back at Spartans and some pressure from them led to a throw in which Tom Marshall connected with to try and clear but it went under our bar and not over it to make it 2-1.Spartans then went looking for another goal which came in the form of a great finish. Lewis Best picked the ball up just inside the Panthers half and advanced down the right beating three players as he did so.Everyone was expecting a cross into the box, but a strong shot at goal from the tightest of angles saw the ball end up in the back of the net.Another great move, this time down the left saw Rhys Common cross the ball in to Kieron Garrett in the middle of the box who shot at goal, but a Panther's player managed to get across and get his leg in the way to prevent what looked to be a certain goal.The action for the first half was not over yet, as the Panthers got a free kick on the Spartans right. A powerful direct shot was taken, which hit the bar and bounced down with pace which Daniel Brown calmly collected.The second half was more even, with chances for both sides. This led to some great saves from Brown in goal in what was probably his best performance for the Spartans. In return, Spartans had some chances just wide and Lewis Parker, thinking he was Gary Brown had a great long distance effort which the Panther's keeper managed to stop. Best made it 4-1 with one of his hallmark moves through the centre of the field which he calmly put wide of the keeper and into the net.