A big focus on the Trophy Events for the non-competitive age groups this weekend, and it was a decisive one, with several teams battling for places in their respective cup finals and semi-finals. A huge "Well done" to all those who have progressed and better luck next time to those who have exited at this stage.

U10 Tigers reached Final of the CWYL Pool D Trophy Event
U9 Pumas reached Final of the Mid Warks Trophy Event
U9 Lions reached Final of the Mid Warks Trophy Event
U8 Jaguars reached semi-finals of the CWYL Pool D Trophy Event

SATURDAY - BOYS

TROPHY EVENT FOCUS
The Under 9 Lions delivered a resounding victory against the Firefighters, securing their place at the top of the Trophy Event group stage and earning a much-deserved spot in the final! The Lions showed up in a dominant display of fantastic football. From the first whistle the Lions applied pressure to the opposition, passing the ball well to create multiple opportunities. Sahib was on great form getting a brace in the first half, with Ksawery extending our lead through a minor deflection. While everyone was convinced Veer's superb strike from a kick in was a goal, it was disallowed. The 2nd half continued as the first with Sahib sealing the deal (and his hat trick) for the Lions with a composed finish. Whilst our forward players took care of business up front, the defenders and midfielders played a crucial role to maintain a clean sheet. Arjun's performance was a key factor to this with his tireless efforts along the left for which he was awarded PotM. This victory is a boost to the Lions' confidence and sets an exciting tone as they head into the final in a fortnight!!

The Under 9 Pumas faced off against Stockton Thunder in their final Trophy Event group match, with all to play for. From the first whistle, the Pumas dominated the game, consistently pressuring the opposition's defence. Harvey broke the deadlock early on with a brilliant run past the defenders to open the scoring. In the second half, the Pumas intensified their attack, with Harvey—who was named PotM—netting an impressive hat-trick , adding three more goals. Despite conceding a goal from a penalty, the Pumas remained relentless. Nirvair added to the tally with a deflected shot, and Zak capped off the performance with a well-taken strike, securing a well-deserved victory and a spot in the Cup Final. Every player held their position superbly, making it an exciting and enjoyable game to watch.

Under 8 Jaguars impressed yet again, this time in their Trophy Event Round Robin group, winning matches against both Brinklow and hosts Panjab Athletic to top their group and qualify for next Saturday's Finals Day, where they will face a semi final against Racing Club Warwick Black followed by a possible Final. On the day, the goals came from Isaac (2), Varun, Theo and an own goal. But it was Stan who picked up Player of the Day honours for his superb defending, consisting of fearless tackling and excellent man-marking.

Under 9 Jaguars played against Lawford Utd in the last Trophy Event group game. From the get go, Jaguars dominated and hit the post in the first couple of mins. Mid way through the first half , Jake slotted a shot from the edge of the box to give the Jaguars the lead. Shortly after Angad scored from the half way line as he caught the keeper off his line. 2nd half started off like the first with Jaguars attacking Lawford. Agam assisted Anshveer for him to get a goal and then he doubled his tally with a crisp finish to build a healthy lead for the Jaguars. Lawford Utd were able to get one back due to an error of judgement at the back. However Raylan scored a brace to then further Jaguars lead to give us a great victory. Well done to the boys following a heavy defeat last week. Also winning 2 out of 3 was a great achievement for the boys and was unlucky not to get through as the team we lost to last week made it through to the final. Player of the match was Angad for his strong work both ways and incredible long range goal!

Under 8 Lions played against the Hillmorton Dragons & Coundon Court teams in a 3-way Trophy Event Round Robin. The boys had a strong initial lead in the first game against Coundon with a goal from Arthur. The boys were equal at half time with a chance at winning when a second goal was scored. However, the opposition were able to take advantage of a gap in the GNP defence, leading to the boys losing the first game. The 2nd match with Hillmorton started with great momentum, and the teams were on an even keel, a parity which continued throughout the match, and the match duly ended all square (1 pt each). Overall the boys are doing better each week it was an enjoyable event from all sides. Well done to the Lions boys for their continued endeavour and beaming smiles.

Under 8 Pumas played in the three-team trophy event group against Rugby Borough Hawks and the Coventrians. We played first against Rugby and, despite a strong start, we unfortunately lost the game to some great wing play and long-range shots by the opposition. However, our second game against Coventrians was a much tighter affair and the boys battled well for a draw. Despite not going through, it was a great experience for the Pumas!

LEAGUE ACTION
GNP Under 12 Tigers were hosting Stockingford FC on Saturday am which were perfect conditions for football. Stockingford came out the blocks fast and were better in terms of play for the first 10-15 mins. In true Tigers spirits, GNP came into the game and broke the deadlock through Josiah. Stockingford kept pushing for a equaliser but were really struggling to get past the GNP rearguard. GNP countered well with further goals from Josiah and Muhamadou. Second half started differently with GNP commanding the play. With Stockingford going down to 8 players the goals flowed with Josiah, Muhamadou, Harjan and Prabh all contributing to an 11-0 win!

Under 7 Lions vs Alvis Colts - the Lions had a few players missing this week through illness but that never stopped the boys bringing great energy, Elliott wanted to try him self in goals this week he made some great decisions in coming of his goal line to gather the ball safely. Every goal kick he nearly set up a counter attack for our forward players. Thomas as always did not stop running for the whole game making last ditch tackles and driving forward at every opportunity. Theo, our goal scorer, showed great commitment down the left wing skipping past players and playing quick from kick ins coming close to scoring numerous times. Jagraaj on the right wing showed his strength tracking back and making the right decisions going forward - he came so close with a great strike off the crossbar. Dev came on playing on the left wing and right wing did not stop running - he made some great challenges and showed amazing energy throughout. Kiaan up front showed how far he has come in recent months, great footwork skipping past two players at a time, driving forward to try get a goal he came so close to scoring on numerous times. It just wasn’t the Lions day in terms of the score, but as always they never gave up!

Under 7 Tigers visited an impressive Copsewood Lions team and battled well throughout. Tobias grabbed the only GNP goal of the game following great work from Rhys but Copsewood came out on top - Well done to all the boys who have remained competitive in Tier 2 despite being short handed for most matches.

SATURDAY - GIRLS

The GNP Under 13 Panthers delivered a dominant performance as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Shamrock, with Hannah stealing the show by scoring all four goals! From the opening whistle, the Panthers were in control, pressing high and creating chances. Hannah opened the scoring early with a composed finish after a well-worked team move. She quickly added a second before completing her hat-trick before halftime with a powerful strike, putting the Panthers firmly in command. A key change in the match saw Anayah step into defense from midfield, providing stability at the back and helping shut down Shamrock’s attacking threats. With her composure and strong tackles, the Panthers’ backline remained solid throughout. In the 2nd half, Hannah added her fourth goal to cap a superb individual performance, sealing a commanding victory for the Panthers. A strong all-round team effort, with Hannah’s clinical finishing and Anayah’s defensive shift playing key roles in an impressive win.

The Panthers Under 8s hosted SoccerRockz Panthers in an exciting home game. It was fantastic to have the full squad available, and the team spirit was high from the start. We kicked off strongly, but after conceding in the first half, it was a tough battle to turn things around, ultimately resulting in a hard-fought loss. A huge shout-out to all the players—Jasmine, Jasika, Mihar, Hargun, Abigail, Lily, Siya, and Tanaya—who gave it their all on the pitch. The support from parents was brilliant, and the post-match McDonald's team outing was the perfect way to wrap up the day!

Under 14 Panthers went down 6-0 away to Starland Warriors. The Panthers were without both their usual goalkeepers and half of the team were recovering from a gruelling few days on their DoE expedition. Despite that, they dominated the first 15 minutes but couldn’t find a way through the home defence. On a small pitch the away team were undone with a long ball up field which beat the back line and was latched onto by the striker who beat the keeper. Fatigue started playing its part and the Panthers struggled to clear their lines at the back which then gave them a mountain to climb against a team who are flying high in the league.

Under 11 Panthers

Under 10 Panthers vs Balsall & Berkswell Hornets. A fantastic friendly match saw the Panthers come together for a resounding victory . A first goal in the opening two minutes from Khloe set the girls up in this fixture. A brilliant attempt from Jodh was saved and bounced out. This attack was swiftly played out with a successful goal from Jodh from a brilliant assist from Khloe. A solo run from Roop produced a third goal!! The entire team were fantastic with their commuication and skill. Well done Panthers!

SUNDAY - BOYS

Under 10 Tigers vs Rugby Borough Foxes in semi final of the trophy event . The Tigers were in a buoyant mood after winning their group and started the semi final positively, Harrison skimmed the bar with header following a brilliant corner from Dharam. Minutes later it was an uncharacteristic error from Kyan in goal, which led to Rugby taking the lead. The Tigers continued to press on and created chances but couldn't draw level. Towards the end of the half, a loose pass led to a 2nd Rugby goal. The boys pulled together during half time, started strongly, and Harrison lashed home after some smart work initially from Sohan. Akaalvir and Harrison came close to scoring again but some last ditch defending and great goalkeeping kept them at bay, Harrison eventually levelled as the pressure paid off. Kyan had to pull off some smart saves, tipping one onto the post late on as the match ended 2-2 and went to penalties. Birat, Dharam and Harrison all scored their penalties. Kyan saved one brilliantly, and his antics on the line did enough to force errors from the Rugby penalty takers. So Tigers progress to the final, thanks to a brilliant second half performance. PotM went to Kyan for recovering from the first half brilliantly!

GNP Under 16s came up against promotion rivals Whitley Juniors. Whitley were only 1 point ahead of GNP going into this match with the demise of the Triumph team seeing all points against them expunged. The boys knew the sense of the occasion and started really well, creating numerous chances which weren't taken before being awarded a pen in the 11th min - Ethan converted it. Whitley responded well and scored within 4 mins. The opposition were dominating until we made a tweak which allowed us to get back into the game and go in 1-1 at half time. Within 8 mins of the 2nd half we were 3 -1 up through goals from Karam and Zaid. Opposition scored 6 mins later only for us to score straight away through Ajay. Tyler increased the lead and Ethan scored a ridiculous half volley from the half way line to make it 6-2 and almost certainly end Whitley's title hopes.

Under 13 Tigers hosted Leamington Brakes in their first game of a double header over the next 2 weeks, coming off back-to-back wins and just 3 pts behind Brakes in the League. The game started off evenly with chances both ends. GNP found themselves out of position at the back from a Leamington throw and they exploited the space with their dangerous striker bursting through and finishing confidently. Muhamadou made his Under 13s debut off the bench and made an immediate impact with his quick feet and acceleration to give GNP momentum and a spell of dominance. However Brakes extended their lead through the same player after a mistake in the middle of the pitch. Half time was about ensuring the boys had belief in their ability to get this game back, and they responded brilliantly just after the restart, Saavun, getting the ball down in the middle and finding a searching through ball which Emmanuel got on the end of and finished confidently. The front two of Muhamadou & Emmanuel then worked together to dispossess the defender on the edge of the box and the ball fell for Emmanuel to drive in on goal and finish high into the net. 2-2. Confidence was high and GNP continued to force mistakes from the opponents. Enoch, Iklil & Harshaan remained alert to ward off any sign of threat at the back. Then, in the space of 3 minutes in the final quarter of the game, Muhamadou capped a debut to remember, firstly reacting quickest to a loose ball from Saavun's corner, he cut inside and fired off a fierce shot which struck the defender, and ricocheted up and over the helpless keeper to edge GNP ahead. Then moments later Emmanuel flicked on a header into the space behind, Muhamodou sprinted onto it, rounded the advancing keeper, and then finished with power at the near post to spark scenes of GNP jubilation. Leamington pulled a goal back from a brilliantly executed bicycle kick from a near post corner, but it proved to be fruitless as the Tigers prevailed 4-3! PoTM Muhamadou.

Under 13 Lions visited top of the table Bulkington Sports for the return fixture, just 1 week after a 12-goal extravaganza at Finham Park between the same teams. This week was very different! The boys had to defend stoutly against a determined attack, but held the league leaders at bay with excellent work from sweeper-keeper Caleb, backed up by his resolute defence of Theo, William, Dominik, Milad & Ryan, maintaining an impressive clean sheet up to half time. A lack of substitutes on the day and a change up front for the home team made all the difference in the 2nd half with the diminuitive striker making incisive runs and finishing smartly on 3 separate occasions for a 2nd half hat trick. The boys never gave in and should look forward to several games against teams in and around them in the league over the coming weeks. PotM: Caleb

Under 12s Pumas had a home fixture against Brinklow Colts. A dominant Pumas performance, winning 4-0 with a strong defensive display. Pumas goalkeeper, Harrison Eyden had a very quiet game with GNP well in control. Aiden put the Pumas ahead, enjoying an awful lot of free space to run into down the left flank. Nathan consistently tore apart the Brinklow defence with his pace and power adding a second,
Pumas going into the half time break 2-0 up. Pumas continued their onslaught after the break, adding a 3rd goal through Casper, with Armaan topping things off with a 4th and a contender for goal of the season, striking from distance giving the Brinklow keeper no chance!

GNP Under 11 Pumas faced Panjab Athletic in the local Finham derby. A Trophy event quarter final game where the Pumas dominated the game from start to finish, albeit the scoreline didnt quite reflect this. The Pumas started on the front foot and created lots of chances with some crisp passing. GNP were finally rewarded with a goal by Jaxx from a corner by Jaiden. The Pumas kept pushing and scored a second goal from Lekan. The second half was similar to the first half, apart for 5 mins when the Pumas eased off and Panjab scored from a goalmouth scramble. Within a few minutes of Panjab scoring they were given a dubious penalty, which levelled the score. The Pumas, however, kept pushing and eventually Lekan scored a great individual goal to seal a well deserved win for the Pumas and a semi final opportunity.

GNP Under 9 Tigers visited Exhall Colts for an early morning start and before the Tigers could wake up the Colts began their attack. Jacob continued his brilliant goalkeeping with several saves in a span of a few minutes and suddenly the Tigers woke up to deliver the first goal of the match; Arveer's finish with the beautiful assist from Josiah. Both teams exchanged blows; Tigers passing the ball with intent and doing it really well. This continued into the second half. Salman delivered an excellent game today, powerful both in defending as well as moving the ball forward, He forced an excellent save from the Colts goalie, but soon Rajan would arrive as fast as lightning to extend the lead. Rajan continued to demonstrate brilliant footwork and good defending and delivered a few more shots at target playing very confidently, to earn himself the PotM award. Rivan delivered exactly what was needed in defence, providing an impenetrable shield to stop the Colts attacks time and time again, and also driving the ball forward when the opportunity presented itself. When Jacob couldn’t continue the second half due to an unexpected illness, Veer pitched in to play brilliantly in goal during the second half to maintain a valued clean sheet. Joban with his sharp alertness delivered an excellent goal in the latter part of the second half with another sharp assist from Josiah, for the Tigers to seal the victory.

Under 14 Tigers vs Southam - It was going to be a tough game against these opponents with players unavailable, and the boys played good football at times, keeping the ball and moving it around. A few errors in the first half, saw the boys down by 3 goals. The second half went the same however managed to pull one back with great combination play by Pascal and Manveer. It was a hard game and credit to the boys, who all played their hearts out.

Under 11 Lions were in trophy event action again vs Tier 1 Rugby Borough Juniors. GNP were playing brightly for most of the first half and missed some gilt-edged chances. Rugby took their one chance and went in at half time 1-0 up. Second half, GNP started brightly, had chances but could not find the back of the net. Rugby went on to score 4 more goals in quick succession and GNP heads dropped. GNP managed a consolation penalty in the final 10 minutes through Sehaj. A disappointing result and performance this, but we go again next week.