Award Winners 08/09
25 May 2009

Best Newcomer

1st Team: Andressa Silva
Reserves: Sian Smith

Most Improved

1st Team: Ashley Henley
Reserves: Carla Randall

Golden Boot

1st Team: Steph Shaw
Reserves: Sophie Tattersall

Goal of the Season

1st Team: Kelly McHugh
Reserves: Bella Hyde

Pi$$ed Panther: Kelly McHugh

Manager's Player of the Season

1st Team: Eloise Young
Reserves: Elaine Toshney

Players' Player of the Season

1st Team: Amy Butcher
Reserves: Clare Palmer

Congratulations to all the winners..!

Inter-Panthers Cup 2009
06 Apr 2009

Colston’s Crimson Crusaders.....2
Shaw, Henley

Peat’s Navy Ninjas......................1
Barton

Teams:

Crusaders: Barnbrook, Butcher, Carini, Fletcher, Henley, Richards, Shaw, Smith, Thomas, Toshney, Young

Ninjas: Barton, Bownes, Denman, Fox, Jesse, Leite, O’Grady, O’Neill, Randall, Silva, Tattersall

Barn Elms welcomed the return of the Inter-Panthers Cup, the 2009 encounter being an eagerly awaited clash between the Crimson Crusaders, sporting red shirts, and the Navy Ninjas, wearing the blue shirts.

With sunny conditions setting the stage and pre-match photos complete, the game kicked off, with Ninjas manager Peat taking the referee’s whistle for the 1st half.

It was Crusaders who made the brighter start & threatened first, with early Reds pressure resulting in Eloise hitting the Ninjas crossbar in the 5th minute.

Ninjas quickly found their feet shortly after however, and the Crusaders defensive trio were being tested, particularly by the intelligent play of KarenO up front, along with Sophie’s pace & tenacity.

But it was the team in red who opened the scoring – a 19th minute Crusaders corner was swung into the box by MaryR & met by Lucy, whose glancing header guided the ball to the edge of the six-yard box where Steph stabbed the ball goalwards. Following a fine instinctive save by Andressa, the ball fell back out to Eloise, whose effort was then cleared away by Bownesy on the far post. The ball then fell to Fletch at the left edge of the box, who then proceeded to turn well to the by-line & pull the ball back across the six-yard box, where Steph was waiting to steal in at the front post & neatly flick the ball past Andressa into the opposite bottom corner.

Within the next minute, Ninjas were down the opposite end threatening to equalise, the Reds escaping a frantic goalmouth scramble, the ball eventually cleared to safety. Ninjas came close again on 22 minutes, Sophie firing narrowly over Sian’s crossbar. And Sian had to come from her line to smother the ball well just a minute later, to deny Sophie once again.

The game was fairly evenly matched to this point, but despite the Ninja front players keeping the Crusaders back line occupied, the Reds midfield trio of MaryR, AmyB & Eloise were looking strong, and on the half hour mark, Crusaders struck another blow – another dangerous MaryR corner was sent in from the right and this time it was Fletch – the smallest player on the pitch – who rose to head the ball goalwards. With the ball looping towards goal, Andressa seemed to have it covered but unfortunately, hampered by KarenL in front of her, was unable to hold on to the ball as she rose to collect. Managing only to palm the ball away as she fell backwards, the ball fell into the path of Ash H in front of goal, who fired the ball into the back of the un-guarded net to put the Reds two goals up.

With Ninjas pressing to get themselves a goal back before half time, they were handed a chance on 44 minutes, courtesy of a seemingly harsh indirect free-kick just inside the edge of the Crusaders penalty area. Much to the bemusement of the Reds players & on-lookers from the sidelines, the infringement had apparently been given against Sian, for holding on to the ball too long… with the referee satisfied that the Reds wall had been marched sufficiently far back, KarenO touched the ball to KellyB, who blazed her shot just over the Reds crossbar, signalling the final chance of the half for either team.

The major personnel change at half time was made by the match officials – refereeing responsibility being handed to Crusaders manager Colston for the second half…

The second half started with the Crusaders well in control, and the Ninjas in a determined mood to force their way back into the game as early as possible. However it was the Crusaders who enjoyed the better of the early possession without really troubling Andressa in the Ninjas goal. Crusaders forced a couple of corners, the latter of which Steph got in a shot but was off target. On 64 minutes, Mary R got a long range effort in but Andressa saved.

Towards the latter stages of the game, with both sides tiring, Sian had to save well at the feet of the ever dangerous Sophie. However the Crusaders were next to force their best chance of the second half, Steph finding space on the right and closing in on goal, Andressa saving well at her feet, but the ball broke to Eloise who fired narrowly wide.

With normal time nearly up, Carla found some space on the edge of the Crusaders area and got a good effort in on goal, but was unfortunate to see it go straight at Sian. However, with the game well into stoppage time, Carla found space on the right flank and cut the ball back to Tara, who flicked it back to KellyB, who then hit a fine first time effort through a crowd of players and into Sian's bottom corner for a consolation goal.

A well fought & enjoyable contest, with Crusaders the victors – congratulations to Crusaders & commiserations to Ninjas – but well played both teams for another fine display of Panthers football.

Panther of the Week for Crusaders goes to Elaine, for a near faultless display in the Reds back three, a great defensive performance. For Ninjas, Panther of the Week goes to KarenO, for her hard-working & intelligent all-round play, particularly giving the Reds defence problems early on. Well played to both Karen & Elaine…

Another enjoyable & hotly contested Inter-Panthers Cup – next stop Isle of Wight…

New League Structure 08/09
07 Aug 2008

The new league structure has been announced for season 08/09 - the most notable change being that there will no longer be a Reserves Division and a new Division 4 has been created. Panthers Reserves will play in Division 3 South.



A spreadsheet containing full details & teams can be found in the 'Club Documents' section.

Award Winners 07/08
09 Jun 2008

Best Newcomer



1st Team: Lucia Carini

Reserves: Tara O'Grady



Most Improved



1st Team: Emma Bownes

Reserves: Emma Barnbrook



Golden Boot



1st Team: Thea Carroll

Reserves: Vicky Moore



Goal of the Season



1st Team: Simona Weaver

Reserves: Dona Reyes



Pi$$ed Panther: Kerrie Tidwell



Manager's Player of the Season



1st Team: Steph Shaw

Reserves: Mary Richards



Players' Player of the Season



1st Team: Mary Dawson

Reserves: Tara O'Grady



Congratulations to all..!

SSMT Final - National Press
24 May 2008

Click on the following links to view our mentions in the national press, following our historic cup victory...!



The Grassroots Adventures of The Barber



Women's Soccer Scene



Fair Game