Panthers v's Obelisk

I haven't commented on here for a couple of weeks, mainly due to missing games or as in last week, after seeing a poor performance it is hard to get motivated to put down some words. How Steve finds the motivation week in, week out when results go against us, or our performance is below what we are capable of - god only knows. Therefore it was fitting that a game where we thought might prove difficult, with some players on holiday or injured that the remaining team put in a stellar battling performance.

With the minimum of players, we took on a team that no doubt saw our result from last week and thought they were in with a chance. It is time like this that you hope the fringe players and the regulars put in a performance to do themselves proud, it was time to step up and be counted.

The first 15 minutes were very similar to last week, with the ball going from one end to another with no real chance being made. Their strikers made my life as a linesman quite easy as they were more or less 2 steps offside when they passed the ball to them. Jack back in goal after injury had very little to do accept mop up the loose balls. It wasn't until the 18th minute when Cameron playing his more usual role of midfielder, latched onto the ball and with a tame shot managed to beat their goalie. Peter not long afterwards was brought down in the penalty area which was awarded a penalty by a hesitant ref'. Dom despatched the penalty with ease. Just before half time, Peter some how conjured a shot which lobbed the goalie for his third of the season. Obelisk were unlucky not to crawl a goal back before half time when a long range effort beat jack only to bounce of the crossbar.

The second half started with the Panthers having a bit of confidence restored, and with the wind behind us, jack took a kick, cleared all of the players, but had Dom chasing it and slotted it past the keeper from a narrow angle. Four Nil. Next on the score sheet was Cameron who not content with scoring his first of the season, wanted more and was on the end of a corner to volley home. Five Nil. Dom was hungry for goals and wanted to put the misses of the previous game well and truly behind him, and did so in style. Another fine lob from the edge of the penalty area left their keeper floundering, a hat trick for Dom and six for the Panthers. Cameron's corner was met neatly by the head of Josh for the Panther's seventh of the game. 

The game ended up with two penalties awarded to Obelisk for some dubious 'fouls', with Obelisk converting one of them. The only spoiler to the game were the niggling from both sets of players. Although the players may have voiced their opinion at the ref once or twice, they were constrained despite kicks, elbows and comments from the opposition.

We have one last game of the season, and one which it would be nice to end on a high, not just for yourselves but for your manager, Steve. Other than that well done lads. 

PS. Sorry Steve, I think I might have gone over 50 words slightly.