Melbourn Tigers earn their stripes

MDFC Panthers 3 Hormead Hares A 3

Under-nines

A WINDSWEPT match at Shepreth between two strong sides saw Melbourn Panthers and Hormead Hares share the spoils in an exciting 3-3 draw.

An early penalty awarded for hand ball allowed Joe Powley to give the Panthers the lead and Stanley Johnson worked tirelessly up front creating several near misses as Melbourn dominated early on.

However Hormead gradually got back in the game and went 2-1 up after two goals in quick succession.

The Panthers continued to surge forward and got a deserved equaliser just before half time when Joshua Montgomery finished off a creative move.

In the second half defender and man-of-the-match Stuart Dingwell found his feet and kept the determined Hares at bay until they finally found a gap and took the lead again with a quality finish.

Undeterred the Panthers kept pushing forward and it was no surprise when Powley got his second with an unstoppable strike from just inside the Hares penalty area.

Both sides continued to attack in search of a winner but Harry Weber stayed resolute in defence along with keeper Ethan Cheshum to earn the Panthers a well deserved draw.

MDFC Tigers 1 Hormead Hares B 0

THE wind carried on blowing for the second match as Melbourn Tigers took to the pitch.

Jaydon Biggs and Tom Whitley worked hard in midfield to keep the Hares attacks to a minimum while a determined William Browning went on a skilful run down the right and gave the Tigers the lead with great finish from an acute angle.

Josh Brown was solid in the Tigers goal keeping a clean sheet as Melbourn went in 1-0 up at half time.

Max Laverriere was a rock at the heart of the Tigers defence whilst man-of-the-match Browning was always a threat up front.

Tigers held out for a 1-0 win in a very even game that either side could have won.