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For the Lions, we have James Kelly in charge. In his team this week he had son Lucas, Joshua, Borys, Jesse O, Ben, Jacob and Jesse B-B, on loan from our U7 Cubs. Thanks to James for this report:

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It wasn't a great start to the tournament, the Lions just never got going as we went down 5-0 to Montpellier.

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The Lions brushed themselves off and put in a spirited performance against Winchcombe. Great work from the whole team, with Jesse B-B and Lucas looking dangerous. Jacob and Joshua put in a strong performance, but it was Borys that shone, netting himself a hat-trick.

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Third game against Lakeside was a tight game. Jesse O and Josh battled hard in the middle, making it hard for the opposition to break through. Jacob made some key tackles and Ben made some great saves to help keep a clean sheet. Lucas, Jesse B-B and Borys made some great attacking breaks, leading to goals for Jesse B-B and Borys. 2-0 victory.

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Next the Lions played Hucclecote. Hucclecote took an early lead, but the team did not give up. Through some great runs by Jesse O and Lucas, the Lions won a penalty. With a big smile on Jacob's face, he stepped up and struck the top corner of the net, bringing the teams level. Lions were creating chance after chance, then a ricocheted shot landed to Lucas, who slotted it in. Ben, Jacob and Joshua kept it tight, with Borys between the posts making some good saves, as the Lions were able to see out the game.

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The final game against a strong Tewkesbury team, saw Ben making some great saves in goal. The whole team defended well and a breakaway by Borys lead to a fortuitous own goal, then Borys adding a second. Jacob, with support from Lucas, Jesse O and Joshua, made some great tackles, with Borys and Jesse B-B continuing to threaten, but the Lions had to settle for the 2-0 win.

Very spirted tournament. The Lions played very well as a team and it showed in the results, with Ben named as Player of the Day.

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The Tigers managers was Steve New, his squad this week consisted of son Toby, Teddy, twins Filip & Fabian, Macauley, Reuben and Lucas, also stepping up from the U7s. See below for his report:

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Tigers 0-3 Hucclecote Hurricanes

Our first game saw us take on an opposition we haven't come across to date. Before kick-off, we started with a couple of pre-match drills to get the children raring to go and it was clear to see they were eager to get going.

The first 5 minutes was evenly contested and the game could have gone either way at this point, but unfortunately it didn't go in our favour.

Hucclecote scored 2 quick goals just after we made substitutions and finished with a third just before the full-time whistle. All three of these came from our own errors close to our goal and Hucclecote pounced.

The scoreline really doesn't do the game justice, as we had a number of close calls ourselves with some fine goalkeeping from the opposition goalkeeper.

Even though we lost, it was joyous to see the excitement and smiles on the children's faces. They were certainly having fun.

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Tigers 5-0 Winchcombe Magpies

The second game was against Winchcombe, who we had played a few weeks earlier. Everyone was keen to get a win from this game and it definitely showed straight from the kick-off.

Fabian went on a blistering run, to slot home our first goal inside the first minute. No more than a minute later it was déjà vu, as Filip recreated Fabian’s goal to make it 2-0. We were in control of the game!

The Tigers worked as a team, to put pressure on Winchcombe to win the ball back all game and that paid off for our next goal. Lucas had stepped-up a year to join us and deservedly scored a cracking goal! He won the ball back on his own, skipped past a couple of players and rifled it into the net!

Filip went on to score two more solo goals, both times taking on half of their team and nestled them both into the bottom corner, to round off a well-deserved hat-trick.

This was the lift the children needed and there was no stopping them from here.

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Tigers - 0-4 Cleeve Colts

Until we came up against a very well drilled Cleeve team! They put their all into this game and could have had one or two goals, but unfortunately Cleeve were just too good. It was clear to see that they have been playing as a team for a while, as they were a different level to us and their positioning was second to none.

The Tigers tried their best and did really well, considering most of the team haven't played together before. We sat down and had a little chat to try and boost their confidence and we went on to our last game.

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Tigers 3-2 Prestbury Phantoms

Their confidence definitely showed in this match and I would say it was our best performance of the day.

Everyone worked as a team and that was rewarded with 3 goals inside the first 6 minutes. Fabian scored two cracking solo goals, followed up by Reuben with his sweet left foot, smashing the back of the net. We were in control once again.

In the last few minutes, Prestbury put the pressure on with a number of shots on target, but Teddy was in goal... nothing was getting past him and he made some fantastic saves!

Prestbury managed to score a fluke goal from the byline, which somehow found the top corner! They kept pressing and managed to get a second. They didn't stop, they wanted a third, but Teddy was at hand again and made some vital saves to give us all 3 points. Fantastic display of team work!! Well done boys!

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Player of the Day could have gone to any one of them, but the standout performance was by Teddy in goal for 2 of the games, with his outstanding saves!

Well done everyone and we move on to next weekend!!

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The Wildcats manager is Johnny Wasylkiw. His team consisted of son Toby, plus Max, Hudson, Oliver S, William, Freddie and Monty H, another of our U7 Cubs. Thanks to Johnny for this report:

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Sunday 6th October 2024 CYFL Tournament at Dowty’s
Game 1 (drew) 0-0 vs Lakeside Blues
Game 2 (won) 4-1 vs Tewkesbury Panthers (Toby 2, William 2)
Game 3 (lost) 2-3 vs Prestbury Phantoms (Oli 2)
Game 4 (lost) 0-1 vs Brockworth Albian
Player of the Day - Toby

The Wildcats went to the Cheltenham Youth Football League tournament in high spirts and ready to put the recent friendlies into competitive practice.

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Game 1 was a very hard-fought match against Lakeside, although the game ended goalless, there was plenty of action from both sides.

The Wildcats started on the attack and when Toby was brought down outside the box, his free-kick went narrowly wide. Hudson continued his trademark runs from midfield, while Max and Oli stayed strong in defence, putting in some vital tackles to stop some dangerous attacks.

William came on up front to provide an attacking threat and Monty joined the solid defence, adding further vital tackles. Freddie was busy in goal and made some fine saves.

Overall, a strong team performance against a tough opposition and a well-deserved clean sheet for the whole team. Both managers remarked on the football played by both sides.

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Game 2 saw the Wildcats play Tewkesbury Panthers and with a goalless draw in the previous game, it was our turn to start scoring!

We started quickly with attempts on goal immediately from Freddie, who was unlucky not to score. William got the team’s first goal of the day with a powerful shot past the keeper, after a great assist from Hudson.

Toby then added to the scoreline, with a good team break and a calm finish past the keeper to make it 2-nil. William’s turn again to score put the team 3-nil up. Toby feeling this was a game of taking turns with William to score, danced his way through the team with a fantastic individual effort, to score the teams 4th goal of the match.

Oli, who had made a fine save prior, was unable to see a low and hard shot which went past 2 defenders legs and into the bottom corner. Monty, who is a year younger than the other boys, was looking at home getting stuck in with some great challenges and runs down the wing. The boys came off with big smiles on their faces!

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Game 3 had a scoreline that didn’t reflect the game at all.

The Wildcats conceded early and then with a moment that shocked us all and even himself, Hudson took a thunderous shot into the back of the net, but unfortunately it was our own net! These things happen in football and despite being 2-nil down, the boys showed tremendous character with William, Freddie, Hudson and Oli working hard together, resulting with a fantastic shot from Oli that hit the back of the net.

Max and Toby came off the bench and carried on the same momentum, Max comfortable in defence and Toby driving forward with an assist to Oli, who finished off his second goal nicely. Monty made some useful saves and was unlucky with a free-kick that looped into top corner with only a few seconds to go. It was a shame the boys didn’t get at least a point, but the hard work was clearly on show for all to see.

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The final game of the day saw the Wildcats playing an unbeaten Brockworth side. Any thoughts of an easy ride from us were quickly put to rest when the boys started as they meant to go on, attacking and defending as a team.

Monty and William started up front together and both had very good shots saved by the keeper and were unlucky not to score. Toby and Max defended strongly and broke down all attacks setting the forwards on their way on the counter.

Brockworth had hit the crossbar and Freddie had made some important saves, finally a free-kick had the team down but not out as the opposition went one-nil up.

Oli and Hudson came on to continue with the team’s battling mentality. William’s perfect free-kick found Toby at the back post, to put it into the back of the net. The team ran off to celebrate, but unfortunately the ref disallowed the goal, as he was not ready and wanted a retake!

We would have deserved that 1-1 draw, with a point against a team that had won all their games, but it wasn’t to be. Again, great spirit shown from all the team, in this very narrow defeat by a good team.

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Today’s Player of the Day was awarded to Toby for his tireless running, battling for the ball and 2 goals. William was a close second with a great performance.

Next weekend sees the final part of the tournament, where I am looking forward to seeing the Wildcats playing again with the same confidence and determination they have shown today.

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The Panthers manager was Christian Goodrich. In his team he had son Elliot, Harry, Jackson, Jack P, Thomas, Henry and U7 Cub Ralphy. Thanks to Christian for his report:

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Southside U8 Panthers Shine with Three Wins at Dowty Tournament!

On Sunday 6th October, the Southside U8 Panthers competed in a five-game tournament at Dowty Sports & Social Club. The boys delivered a strong performance with three wins and only two losses, securing 3rd place in the league table.

Game summary:

Game 1: Southside Panthers 3-0 Winchcombe Town (Elliot, Jackson 2)
Game 2: Southside Panthers 1-3 Nunnery Wood (Jackson pen)
Game 3: Southside Panthers 3-0 Cinderford (Harry, Jackson 2)
Game 4: Southside Panthers 1-0 Bishops Cleeve (Elliot)
Game 5: Southside Panthers 0-2 Prestbury Phantoms

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● Game 1: Southside Panthers 3-0 Winchcombe Town
A great start, with Elliot scoring and Jackson adding two more after coming on as a sub, following a great assist from Henry. Strong defending from Harry and Ralphy helped Jack to have a relatively quiet game in goal and secure a clean sheet.

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● Game 2: Southside Panthers 1-3 Nunnery Wood
A tough match, with Jackson converting a penalty. Despite the loss, the team showed excellent resilience and kept fighting till the final whistle.

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● Game 3: Southside Panthers 3-0 Cinderford
Jackson found the back of the net twice, with one goal coming from a brilliant cross by Harry, who also scored a splendid goal himself! Henry provided another fantastic assist for Jackson’s second. Solid defending from Ralphy and Jack kept things calm at the back, allowing Elliot to enjoy a quiet game in goal.

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● Game 4: Southside Panthers 1-0 Bishop's Cleeve
A close match, with Elliot securing the win with a neat finish into the far corner, assisted by Ralphy, who worked really hard to move the ball into attack. Henry returned from injury and made a number of valuable tackles in defence.

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● Game 5: Southside Panthers 0-2 Prestbury Phantoms
Despite their best efforts, the boys struggled after a long wait, concluding the tournament with a 2-0 loss - we think they were ready for their lunch!

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Player Contributions:

● Elliot: Opened the scoring in Game 1 and netted the winner in Game 4. His presence in attack and creating chances was a great asset to the team.
● Harry: Impressive in defence and playmaking, assisting multiple goals and scoring in Game 3. His vision and strong presence were key throughout the tournament.
● Henry: Played a pivotal role in the first game with a crucial assist. His attacking play helped create several scoring opportunities for the team.
● Jack: Kept two clean sheets and outfield was a strong presence in defence, with lots of interceptions to contribute to three clean sheets for the three wins.
● Jackson: Named ‘Player of the Day for his two-goal performance in Game 1, penalty in Game 2 and contributions in Game 3. His work rate and energy stood out.
● Ralphy: Stepping up from the U7s, Ralphy demonstrated strength and determination, especially in pressing forward and assisting in key moments.

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A Big Thank You to All the Grown-Ups!
A huge thank you to all the grown-ups for their continued support and encouragement throughout the morning. It was a great experience for the team and we’re looking forward to next week’s tournament as we return to Dowty!

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The Pumas were managed by Matt Wiles, supported by Alex Powell. In their team we had sons Benny and Archie respectively, Ralf, Alex, Oliver S, Reggie and U7 Cub Millan. Thanks to Alex for his report:

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This weekend, the Pumas travelled to Dowty Sports Club in Staverton, for a 5-match group stage tournament.

Match Results:
• Southside Pumas 5 – 0 Longford
• Southside Pumas 3 – 1 Brockworth Albion Magpies
• Southside Pumas 0 – 2 Tewkesbury Town
• Southside Pumas 2 – 2 Churchdown Panthers
• Southside Pumas 3 – 2 Lakeside Whites

The tournament was a tremendous success, offering our young footballers the opportunity to develop their skills, handle various in-game scenarios and, most importantly, enjoy a great morning of football with their teammates.

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Player Highlights:

Archie:
Archie the GK was as brave as a Lion, always ready to charge out and close down the onrushing attackers. He made an outstanding diving save in the opening game and has really grasped the importance of playing out from the back, spreading the ball wide. A standout moment came in the final game, when Archie rushed out to make a crucial save with his legs, maintaining our 3-2 lead. Brilliant work, Archie!

Benny:
Benny was consistently excellent at stopping the opposition, as well as building our attacks from deep. He’s often our outlet from goal-kicks and has a fantastic right foot to initiate this phase of play. Benny really focused on checking his surroundings, keeping an eye on opposing attackers to ensure no one was left free, which paid off. He was involved in a superb team goal, picking up the ball on the left flank and delivering a perfect cross for Oliver to finish. Top class, Benny!

Alex:
Alex was instrumental in breaking up opposition attacks, making two brilliant sliding tackles in the first game to prevent shots on goal. But Alex also pushed forward, supporting the attack with some neat touches to maintain possession. His enthusiasm and team spirit were outstanding throughout the tournament. Alex also was key to getting the team further up the pitch and allowing our forward players a chance to influence the match. Well done Alex.

Reggie:
Reggie was unlucky not to score in the first game, with a cracking shot that deserved better. Full of effort and tenacity, Reggie was a key player, always willing to run, tackle, and look for the pass. As the tournament progressed, Reggie’s confidence grew, and he made some vital blocks when the opposition threatened. Reggie was a great team player, always supportive of his team mates and had a good impact. Great effort, Reggie!

Ralf:
Ralf was a bundle of energy, working tirelessly in both attack and defence. He scored two quickfire goals in the first game, finishing clinically—one high into the net, the other placed perfectly in the corner. Ralf's ability to carry the ball up the pitch was a real asset, and his celebration with Archie after an important save was a personal highlight. He also did exceptionally well tracking back, making last-ditch tackles and breaking up play. Great stuff, Ralf!

Millan:
Playing up an age group, Millan excelled in multiple areas throughout the matches. His close control was superb, and he ran with the ball confidently, often winning tackles and battling hard. Millan was unlucky not to score, notably with a free kick that was well saved in the final game. He covered a lot of ground and helped drive us forward. Well played, Millan!

Oliver:
What can we say about Oliver? Goals, goals, and more goals! He netted eleven over the five games, showcasing his fantastic dribbling and powerful shots. Oliver’s instinct to drive forward and shoot is superb, and he even contributed more defensively, tracking back to make interceptions as the tournament progressed. His finishing ability is special, and he was rightly named our Player of the Day. Outstanding performance, Oliver!

Despite Oliver's incredible goal tally, this tournament was truly a collective effort. The boys worked hard to follow instructions, implement the game plan, and, above all, enjoy the experience. The most important question we asked them was whether they had fun, and we’re thrilled to say the answer was a unanimous YES!

Love it, Pumas!

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Sounds like an exciting morning of tournament football And we get to do it all again this Sunday!! Make sure to stay around at the end, as everyone will receive a medal.