Badger Tame the Panthers!

WCFC U13 Badgers came from behind to day to win their opening game of the season today against AFC Corsham on a gloriously sunny autumnal afternoon at Northbrook. The Badgers, playing a 4-4-2 formation, made a bright start with early chances for Jack, Louis and William D not quite finding the net. It was therefore against the run of play that the Panthers produced what proved to be their best move of the game, with a midfielder making a well timed run through the channels to fire a good shot into the net giving Badger's keeper William G no chance. The Badgers roared back and were soon deservedly level albeit in a slightly fortuitous way when a fierce long range freekick from Bailey took a wicked deflection off the wall and looped over the unfortunate Panther's keeper into the net with Jack following in. There was a degree of good fortune also in the Badger's second a few minutes later when pressure from William D crossing the ball from the left again saw the ball nestle in the Panther's net. With Captain Oli and Bailey looking increasingly dominant at centre half and Toby starting to control the midfield, the Badgers looked constantly threatening and Louis broke free on the right to fire a rasping shot high into the Corsham net to give them a 3 -1. The lead was almost increased when a 20 yard scorcher from Eddie at right full back only just cleared the crossbar. Prompted by some tactical changes and substitutions for fresh legs, the pattern continued in the second half. Reggie and Jenson were now causing trouble for the stretched Panther's defence on both sides of the pitch. A tremendous break from the ever willing Theo saw him extend the lead with great style. A penetrating through ball from Sonny, working hard now in central midfield, almost led to a fifth when Teddy, now upfront, fired a shot just wide. A surge forward from William G showing his versality at centre half, led to a shot by Sonny which hit the side netting. In the end, it was left to Jack to capitalise when a high team press led by dependable Ashton gave him the space to roll the ball into a empty Panthers net. Thus, it ended in a 5-1 victory for the Badgers, an excellent all-round team performance against a courageous Panther's side who fought hard right to the end of a highly entertaining game played in a good spirit.