Hawks tame the Panthers

Gently sloping terrain, morning sun and a chill wind greeted the U12 Henley Hawks at their away league fixture against Maidenhead Boys & Girls Panthers. There was a false start with the realisation there were 10 Panthers on the pitch… but order - and equal sides - were soon restored.

Conor Quinn took the first half in goal for the Hawks and made a great save in the first 5 minutes after a one v one with the opposition. A minute later, the same scenario played out at the opposite end following a great run down the right wing from Jessica Reed who’s shot on goal was blocked resulting in a corner for the Hawks. Jenson Lea stepped in to take a stunning corner that found Michael Dowling in the box - who slotted it home making it 1-0 to the Hawks.

Less than a minute later, Jessica Reed was leaving players in her wake with another pacy run down the right, this time resulting in a shot that went just wide. Lucas Wilson was similarly dangerous on the left wing, with a lovely run and cross that found striker Jamie Halliwell in the box, but his shot was saved by the Panthers’ keeper.

Around the 12-minute mark, the ref awarded a penalty to the Panthers following an incident in the box and they converted with a well-taken penalty to Conor Quinn’s right making the scores equal at 1-1. At this stage the Hawks were still dominant, and Jenson Lea made some good runs past several of the Panthers’ defence. Jessica Reed also made another great run - forcing the Panthers to re-assess their marking strategies.

George Acock and Harry Graham brought renewed energy to the side and within 5 minutes of being on the pitch, George Acock had crafted a through ball to Jessica Reed, leaving her one on one with the keeper again. This time nothing was left to chance and she found the back of the net with a perfect finish making it 2-1 to the Hawks.

Oliver Duncan, Louis Catlin and Leo Schlaefli were busy in defence and Leo made a great clearance on the left to keep the Hawks’ lead. Just before the 25-minute mark, it was Harry Graham’s turn to make a difference with an accomplished run down the left and a lovely cross in to George Acock who put the ball away to make it 3-1.

The Panthers kept up the pressure and Conor Quinn was forced to make a great save resulting in a corner for the opposition. Defending the corner was not the Hawks’ finest moment - the opposition had players unmarked - whom they put to full use and added another goal to their tally.

Harry Graham kept up the pressure on the left, with a strong cross into the box a minute before half time - positioning of the ball was spot on but there was just a little too much weight for Jessica Reed to connect to it. A corner for the Hawks taken by Harry Graham was the last play of the first half. The Hawks had a lead - but a narrow one - and had been found wanting at times when the Panthers made some strong central breaks. All to play for in the second half.

The Panthers came out strong and Leo Schlaefli was called on again in defence - he made a great block and sent the ball up field to George Acock who passed out to Michael Dowling. Play rocketed back again to the Hawks’ box and a shot from the Panthers went over the cross bar. The Hawks retaliated with renewed strength, Conor Quinn (now playing out field) had a shot saved and cleared. Jenson Lea worked himself into position to pick the ball up on the left and as the keeper came out to challenge, he skilfully chipped it over him into the top right corner bringing the score to 4-2. A minute later Lucas Wilson had a run down the left and took a shot across the goal which inched to the right of the post.

Jenson Lea kept up the assault on the Panthers’ defence - following in Lucas Wilson’s footsteps with a strong run down the left, passing several players with ease. The run forced a corner, taken by Jenson Lea that found Leo Schlaefli who pounded the ball back in towards goal. The Panthers’ keeper saved it and it fell to Jamie Halliwell who took a shot and put it just wide. Less than a minute later Harry Graham added to the onslaught with a belting left footer from outside the box which went remarkably close. Probably feeling a little phased, the Panthers made a poor clearance and George Acock was completely ‘on the ball’ - spotting the opportunity to dive in and put away a cheeky goal for the Hawks making it a more comfortable 5-2.

Less than a minute later, at around 43 minutes, the Panthers struck back bringing the score back to 5-3. They well and truly had their tails up following the goal and play reversed with possession being dominated by the Panthers. Jessica Reed, now in goal, pulled off a great save a minute after the goal but - following some scrappy defence and loss of focus by the Hawks - the Panthers stole another goal at 46 minutes making it 5-4.

The Hawks rallied somewhat as they saw their lead diminishing and Jamie Halliwell made a foray down the left but was thwarted by the Panthers’ defence. George Acock and Harry Graham kept up the pressure but play was going end to end forcing Michael Dowling (who had returned to defence) to make a key clearance. Showing his versatility, he swapped with Jessica Reed in goal, allowing her out to make some strong clearances for the Hawks as the Panthers continued their bombardment of the goal for an equaliser.

The Hawks had a chance at 53 minutes with a run from Lucas Wilson and another a minute or so later - but were caught offside in their enthusiasm. Michael Dowling pulled off a save with only 5 minutes to go, followed closely by the Panthers putting it wide and within seconds he was forced to make another great save. The Panthers were relentless and finally managed to find the elusive equaliser after some messy and reactive play by the Hawks with only 3 minutes left on the clock. Who wanted it more?

With just over one minute left, the Hawks forced a corner that was skilfully arced in by Jenson Lea. In what seemed like slow motion - but all happened in split seconds - the ball went to Harry Graham who took a punt on goal, but it banged into Jamie Halliwell who swiftly turned and controlled the ball for a strike and the ball then fell to Lucas Wilson who finally found the back of the net with the weight of desire of the entire Hawks team (and coaches and supporters!) behind him.

With the score now at 6-5, the Hawks very nearly consolidated their lead even further with the last play of the match - a lovely shot from the left from Lucas Wilson - but it rolled painfully to the right of the post. Still, the Hawks had done enough and managed to win the tie. For his two goals, timely assist, great passing and tirelessness in tracking back to support the defence when needed, man of the match this week went to George Acock.