The u11s Panthers kicked off the season with an away match against the Riverview Spitfires.

The game began with a scorching temperature and some hefty tackles from both teams. Riverview was limited to long-range shots in the first half as our starting defenders Jimmy and Aiden effectively blocked shots on goal.

Three minutes before half-time, Jude received the ball on the halfway line and sprinted towards the box. However, he was quickly dispossessed by two Riverview defenders.

Lleyton, who was playing as a striker in place of the injured Jonte, stepped up and calmly tucked the penalty into the bottom corner.

The second half continued in a similar vein, with Panthers launching continuous attacks. They were unfortunate to miss a second goal from a well-struck free kick.

Riverview gradually gained strength and began attacking more freely. Had it not been for an outstanding save from Josh, who the other manager described as a “flying squirrel”, they would have equalised.

Fifteen minutes before the end of the game, Riverview scored from the edge of the box. This only seemed to energise the Panthers further.

Had it not been for a fingertip save from Jimmy and a goalmouth scramble at the end, the score might have been different.

Overall, it was a fantastic team performance, and I’m incredibly proud of the effort each player put into the game.

Goal Scorer: Lleyton Bennett
Managers Player: Lleyton Bennett
Parents Player: Jaxon Hui