This was the Pumas final match in the mini leagues to decide which league they would be playing in for the rest of the season. A win would surely seal a place in the Premier League, after two convincing wins against Euxton Villa & Brinscall Village.
Both teams arrived for the 11am kick off to an immaculately prepared pitch in perfect weather conditions. The Pumas lined up in a 4 - 2 - 4 formation with Conor (1), Caleb (4), Callum (15), Sam (2), Matthew (5), Lewis (12), Ben (8), Robert (6), Dion (9), Tom (10) and Tyler (14). Subs Eddie & Elliot
The game started off well for the Pumas with excellent early pressure which resulted in a shot at goal from Tyler, followed soon after by a corner taken by Robert which fell to Caleb’s feet whose shot hit the post. Pumas forced another corner shortly after, taken again by Robert, which was headed wide by Sam. Dion was looking sharp and troubled the defence on numerous occasions during these early exchanges. Charnock Richard’s first foray into the Pumas half ended in a shot wide after 5 mins. The next passage of play saw Dion make a great pass to Tom whose shot was saved brilliantly by their keeper. Another penetrating run and shot by Dion tested their keeper who made another sharp save. Pumas were dominating possession and territory at this stage with their best effort a cracking shot from Tyler which crashed against the crossbar. A corner by the Pumas after 9mins resulted in a goalmouth scramble which was somehow kept out by their keeper. The Pumas defence was dealing effectively with the few attacks Charnock mounted with Callum looking very assured at the back. After 10mins a good clearance from Conor resulted in Dion running through and shooting against the post, surely the Pumas would break the deadlock soon. Sam was as industrious as ever and was trying to get forward as often as possible without forgetting his defensive duties. Matt snuffed out another attack from the visitors and from a resulting throw in he found Dion who ran powerfully through the defence to slot a goal home off the inside of the post for a richly deserved goal. 1-0.
This opening goal seemed to relieve the pressure on the Pumas offensive efforts and two further goals from Tom and Lewis put the Pumas into a comfortable 3-o lead.
Shots from Matt and Tyler from distance were again saved well by the impressive Charnock keeper who was by far the busiest man on the pitch. Ben was marshalling the boys well in the centre of the field and was trying to cover every blade of grass as usual. A good clearance kick from Conor found a tireless Dion who ran the ball into the area and his shot found the top of the net out of the reach of their keeper. 4-0
More great pressure from the Pumas saw Matt pass to Dion who hit the crossbar, fortunately the rebound found Tyler in space who made no mistake from 5 yards out. 5-0.
Just before the end of the half a great through-ball from Robert found Dion whose attempt at goal on his weaker left foot went wide of the mark. The half closed with another smart move started by a mazy run by Tom who passed to Caleb who shot just wide from distance. Half time 5-0.
Substitutions at half time saw Elliot on for Dion and Eddie on for Robert. Another great start from the Pumas saw more excellent efforts on goal with Tom unlucky to be caught offside after finishing well. A good run and a shot from Tyler went just wide followed closely by a couple of shots from Elliot which failed to hit the target. An excellent move on the halfway line started with a pass from Sam onto Matt who found Eddie who crossed into their area for Tyler to shoot narrowly wide. Eddie looked busy and was certainly making an impact out on the right wing. A corner after 38mins from Tom found Ben in space, his shot going just over the crossbar. A further substitution took Tom off and Robert on, switching Eddie to the left and Robert to the right. After 42mins a beautiful passing move that involved Lewis and Matt linking up well for a final ball into Eddie whose fierce shot went in just under the crossbar 6-0
Substitution 45mins Dion on for Tyler. Charnock Richard battled hard in all areas of the pitch and enjoyed their best period of play in the next five minutes and a good low shot from their forward went through Conor’s legs for their only goal. 6-1. No clean sheet for the “Cat” this week!
The rest of the game was pretty much played in Charnock Richards half with their keeper pulling off some fantastic saves from Matt, Eddie, Elliot, Ben and Dion. Tom came on for Callum in our final substitution. In the final few minutes a penetrating run and powerful shot by Lewis was only pushed out by their keeper to Dion who popped it in for his hatrick. 7-1
Both teams arrived for the 11am kick off to an immaculately prepared pitch in perfect weather conditions. The Pumas lined up in a 4 - 2 - 4 formation with Conor (1), Caleb (4), Callum (15), Sam (2), Matthew (5), Lewis (12), Ben (8), Robert (6), Dion (9), Tom (10) and Tyler (14). Subs Eddie & Elliot
The game started off well for the Pumas with excellent early pressure which resulted in a shot at goal from Tyler, followed soon after by a corner taken by Robert which fell to Caleb’s feet whose shot hit the post. Pumas forced another corner shortly after, taken again by Robert, which was headed wide by Sam. Dion was looking sharp and troubled the defence on numerous occasions during these early exchanges. Charnock Richard’s first foray into the Pumas half ended in a shot wide after 5 mins. The next passage of play saw Dion make a great pass to Tom whose shot was saved brilliantly by their keeper. Another penetrating run and shot by Dion tested their keeper who made another sharp save. Pumas were dominating possession and territory at this stage with their best effort a cracking shot from Tyler which crashed against the crossbar. A corner by the Pumas after 9mins resulted in a goalmouth scramble which was somehow kept out by their keeper. The Pumas defence was dealing effectively with the few attacks Charnock mounted with Callum looking very assured at the back. After 10mins a good clearance from Conor resulted in Dion running through and shooting against the post, surely the Pumas would break the deadlock soon. Sam was as industrious as ever and was trying to get forward as often as possible without forgetting his defensive duties. Matt snuffed out another attack from the visitors and from a resulting throw in he found Dion who ran powerfully through the defence to slot a goal home off the inside of the post for a richly deserved goal. 1-0.
This opening goal seemed to relieve the pressure on the Pumas offensive efforts and two further goals from Tom and Lewis put the Pumas into a comfortable 3-o lead.
Shots from Matt and Tyler from distance were again saved well by the impressive Charnock keeper who was by far the busiest man on the pitch. Ben was marshalling the boys well in the centre of the field and was trying to cover every blade of grass as usual. A good clearance kick from Conor found a tireless Dion who ran the ball into the area and his shot found the top of the net out of the reach of their keeper. 4-0
More great pressure from the Pumas saw Matt pass to Dion who hit the crossbar, fortunately the rebound found Tyler in space who made no mistake from 5 yards out. 5-0.
Just before the end of the half a great through-ball from Robert found Dion whose attempt at goal on his weaker left foot went wide of the mark. The half closed with another smart move started by a mazy run by Tom who passed to Caleb who shot just wide from distance. Half time 5-0.
Substitutions at half time saw Elliot on for Dion and Eddie on for Robert. Another great start from the Pumas saw more excellent efforts on goal with Tom unlucky to be caught offside after finishing well. A good run and a shot from Tyler went just wide followed closely by a couple of shots from Elliot which failed to hit the target. An excellent move on the halfway line started with a pass from Sam onto Matt who found Eddie who crossed into their area for Tyler to shoot narrowly wide. Eddie looked busy and was certainly making an impact out on the right wing. A corner after 38mins from Tom found Ben in space, his shot going just over the crossbar. A further substitution took Tom off and Robert on, switching Eddie to the left and Robert to the right. After 42mins a beautiful passing move that involved Lewis and Matt linking up well for a final ball into Eddie whose fierce shot went in just under the crossbar 6-0
Substitution 45mins Dion on for Tyler. Charnock Richard battled hard in all areas of the pitch and enjoyed their best period of play in the next five minutes and a good low shot from their forward went through Conor’s legs for their only goal. 6-1. No clean sheet for the “Cat” this week!
The rest of the game was pretty much played in Charnock Richards half with their keeper pulling off some fantastic saves from Matt, Eddie, Elliot, Ben and Dion. Tom came on for Callum in our final substitution. In the final few minutes a penetrating run and powerful shot by Lewis was only pushed out by their keeper to Dion who popped it in for his hatrick. 7-1
Full time 7-1
Another satisfying win for the Pumas against a plucky Charnock Richard side that never gave up. This was epitomised by their keeper’s outstanding play that kept the Pumas score in single figures.
The new league will start on 27th September and the new league will be published here as soon as we know.
by Gordon and Lorraine (Bill is away).
