GNP Sports started a brand new youth season with a record breaking 22 junior teams (18 boys, 4 girls) competing across 3 different leagues! This included 5 new teams playing their 1st games and they were all amazing!

Whilst it was great to be back to football this weekend, we saw the September heatwave impact our opening weekend of league fixtures, particularly on the Saturday where temperatures topped 30c in places! Well done to all the kids for showing great resilience and character in such challenging conditions!

SATURDAY - GIRLS

GNP Under 9 Panthers and Leafield Athletic Lionesses kicked off the season with an early start. GNP had newcomers Anya and Lily on debut and taking the game in their stride. The first half was evenly matched. Keeper Aish made several good saves and Elizabeth did the same in the second half. As the sun and temperature rose, the girls momentum unfortunately waned. The opposition took advantage and scored key goals. Well done to the girls for their determination to keep going.

Under 10 Panthers faced off against Kenilworth Wardens Kestrels in unforgiving temperatures. Positive passing led to our first goal before half time. The girls pressed to increase their advantage in the 2nd half against a stubborn defence with the breakthrough coming from the penalty spot after handball. This goal allowed the girls to relax & see out the game in style. Aapti and Aakriti showed how far they have come making a nuisance of themselves upfront. Annabel made her competitive debut up front, coming close to a goal on a few occasions. Divjot was a rock at the back clearing everything in front of Kia who was making her debut in goal. Tino, Ari, and Avneet continued where they left off last season with all three on the score sheet. Suvreet played her first game as an anchor for the team in central midfield constantly breaking opposition play and linking up well with the strikers and wingers, epitomised by 2 assists. All in all, a good first outing of the season for the girls!

Under 12 Panthers started their maiden 9v9 campaign against Sutton Utd under scorching midday heat. GNP started the game on the front foot with chances created by Mankirat but fell behind from a penalty before half time. Orna and Harsimrat both made their competitive debuts and were both excellent! The Panthers kept pushing but failed to find a goal and ended up conceding another towards the end of the game. Ekham and Dilraj did well to keep the opposition scoreline low, with Dilraj saving a penalty as well.

Under 13 Panthers, our newest addition to our Girls League teams, made their competitive debut away to Alcester Town in Division 3, and had a day to remember, with a stunning 11-0 victory. Goals came from Bianca (4), Charu (2), Saffron (2), Esme, Poppy & Gursimran, but congratulations to all the girls on such a positive start to their grassroots football careers!

SATURDAY - BOYS

Under 7 Tigers visited Rugby Borough and played a team that had defeated them comfortably in one of their early prep games as Under 6s. This time the game was a much closer affair, and GNP threatened to upset the odds. But Rugby managed to prevail. Nevertheless, great to see how far the Tigers boys have come in such a short space of time!

Under 7 Lions debut game was away to Bedworth United. The Lions started off strong, taking the lead in the opening minutes and going on to take a clear halftime lead, great link-up play by the boys on their first league appearance! The 2nd half saw the momentum, continue with the lead extended, thanks to completion of Samarbir’s hat trick, but this was short lived. A series of defensive errors let in Bedworth United for a fightback, with the dying minutes of the game seeing them equalise to leave the game all square. Overall a great performance by the boys in stifling conditions!

Under 7 Pumas visited Rugby Borough for their 1st ever game and the boys put in a tremendous effort against more experienced opponents, to do themselves and their parents proud! The game proved to be very one sided, but the Pumas had a goal from Mavin to celebrate and all finished the game with smiles on their faces!

The Under 8 Tigers were up against Soccer Rockz Cyclones. It was a real team effort in the heat. A wonder goal by Dara, some excellent assists by Arveer and a hat trick by Player of the Match, Eesa, as well as new goalkeeper, Kaydon, pulling off some amazing saves. Throw in Jovan’s work rate which was outstanding and Attharv pressing forward along with Varun who covered the wing well, resulting in a fine victory.

The heat was certainly on for the first game of the season and the Under 8 Lions stepped up to the challenge! Training paid off with the boys passing well which gave Fakhir his first goal, but Rugby Borough quickly equalised. The boys came back fighting with Rajan and Fakhir scoring a couple more before half time. Both teams struggled with the rising temperatures but Veer put in another sterling effort alongside Sehaj keeping the ball out of our net. Manroop and Giaan feeding the ball forward enabled Fakhir to get his hat trick and Rajan with another to finish the match. Well done boys!

Under 8 Pumas vs Coventry Copsewood Hurricanes – A well rounded performance by the team in attacking and defending, great defending by Yash, a rock at the back , he was in multiple one on one situations and was able to intercept and supply the ball forward. Superb passing and dribbling to get around the opposing team, with Sunny, Nirvair and Ife all getting onto the score sheet. Musa took player of the match honours for being an absolute menace to the opponents, consistently pressing and taking on the defenders, and grabbing 2 goals of his own!

Under 8 Jaguars hosted Southam United, with the boys starting the game very well and organised, however the opposition proved to be too strong. The boys played against a team who were last season playing in higher tiers and gave it their all. Well done to the boys for their determination against superior opponents!

Under 11 Tigers, having been promoted a division following their unbeaten season, came up against Bulkington Sports at home and looked in good shape at half time. However, Bulkington forced themselves back into it against a tiring Tigers and completed a ferocious comeback with 2 stunning goals in the final 10 minutes to top things off.

SUNDAY - BOYS

GNP Under 9 Lions (pictured) are a newly formed team over the summer and opened up their campaign vs Whitley Juniors. Everyone played fantastic, bearing in mind they have only played together for a short while. Good battling effort by all players individually and collectively as a team. A nervy ending but the Lions held on for the result. Goals from Majid (2), Raqeeb & Anopa.

Under 9 Tigers will compete in the same league as the Under 9 Lions and they also faced opponents from Whitley (Colts). Despite 2 goals from Sohan, the lack of substitutes proved critical as Whitley’s fresher legs overpowered the tiring Tigers in the 2nd half. The GNP Derby awaits at Finham Park next week!

GNP Under 10 Tigers were away to Vision jaguars in the season opener & were on the back foot in the first quarter. After the first drinks break, Tigers took control of the game. Ricky turned his man, drove in to the box and slotted home before soon grabbing his second. 2nd half, Tigers picked up where they left off – some great play resulted in birthday boy Ricky getting his hat trick. Jaylan also got in on the act with a goal from a fantastic assist from Shaan. Great defensive work from Amar, Aman, Jaskirat, Shaan and Reece ensured a clean sheet to boot. Congratulations on a great performance all round.

The Under 10 Lions hosted their 1st game in Tier 2 against Rugby Borough. The Lions had the better of the first half, taking the lead through new boy, Angad. The Lions had a number of chances to extend the lead, hitting the bar and post, but could not get the 2nd goal. Rugby equalised to make it 1-1 at the end of the first half. 2nd half was very even with chances on both sides but it was fitness levels that told in the end, with the Lions flagging in the final 10 minutes and conceding 4 goals. The scoreline didn’t reflect the game overall so the boys will inevitably return stronger. Player of the Match was Ryan, for a skilful performance, which on another day, could have bagged him a Hat trick.

Under 10 Pumas played away to Weddington. GNP grew into the game and started to play some nice attacking football. A well worked goal gave them the lead - a pass from Kian to summer signing, Lekum, allowed him to shoot across the goal beating the keeper. The Pumas conceded a goal through sloppy defending but came out strong and pressed Weddington high up the pitch. Pumas took the lead when Mason pushed the ball away from a corner kick, Axel picked it up deep and started a long run, beating the defender to then slot it pass the keeper. Further chances came and went, with Pumas defensive solidity key to securing a good result!

Under 11 Pumas were in Trophy Event action at AFC Coventry in their 1st competitive 9v9 fixture. An even start, with GNP eventually taking control of the game. The boys missed 5 or 6 goal scoring opportunities before Aaron Dhaliwal gave them the lead with a neat ball played through by Armaan Vraitch. AFC upped their game and created several opportunities but were denied by goalkeeper, Pravir Walia, who made some fine saves. However, AFC did eventually grab an equaliser before half time. The 2nd half showed a similar pattern to the first with GNP gradually establishing superiority again and eventually breaking the deadlock through Aaron Dhaliwal’s 2nd after he beat his marker and struck from the edge of the area. A long range effort from Haris Hussain hit the crossbar to deny the Pumas a 3rd goal late on but the final score was 2-1 to give GNP a perfect start to their Trophy Event campaign.

The Under 12 Lions squad underwent an overhaul over the summer and they went in as outsiders in their opening league tie with one of the Division favourites Coundon Cockerels. A disjointed and error-ridden 1st half ended with Coundon well in front, but GNP put on an improved showing 2nd half, including a consolation goal for Milad, set up by Ayomide. Filip was awarded player of the match for a disciplined performance in central midfield off the bench. Lots to work on, but the potential to improve is there!

Under 12 Tigers faced the aptly named Copsewood Titans in a supremely challenging debut match in Division A. The boys have been tremendous in recent seasons to earn promotion to the elite division, but knew this match was going to be a huge step up, especially after losing 2 key players over the summer. It proved to be the case, with Copsewood running out comfortable winners. However, the Tigers truly competed for 50 of the 60 minutes, showing strong discipline and flashes of attacking threat, including a missed penalty which would have made it 1-1. Oscar played really well, out of position, to earn the PotM award!

Under 13 Tigers Vs Christ the King. The first 11-a-side match for the boys and they were in for a tough game as always against these opponents. The first 25 mins we matched them and were very resilient and hard working. Once CTK scored, the game changed and we were on the back foot. However the boys still played some great football, but eventually lost the game 5-0. Some great performances, especially in midfield, but today’s man of the match was Aarav, displaying superb battling qualities and lots of energy.

After a fast start against Coventrians in Div C, GNP Under 15s took the lead after 3 mins. The game then became scrappy and our decision making meant we didn't build on the early lead. In the 2nd half the football did the talking and in a destructive 10 minute spell the game was effectively over through scoring 3 goals. An amazing 2nd half performance led to a 6-0 home win. There was a brace from Ajay, and a goal apiece from Zaid, Ben, Ethan and Archie.

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