"The Panthers Under 14s squad returned at the weekend after their successful European foray. The Club took part for the second year, in the highly prestigious Youth Friendship Games, the football competition being based near Haarlem in Holland.

The Panthers were matched with two American Academy sides and a Swedish club side in their qualifying group. The group winners were then placed into the 'A' seeded group of 5 and the top two teams would battle out the Final between them. Clubs that didn't make it into the A seeded group would then either qualify for the B or C groups.

In the opening match the Panthers hit the ground running in the July sunshine with a convincing 4-1 win over US Academy side, Explosion SA. The Americans couldn't believe that they were losing to a Club side in this manner and said as much.

The second match was a more physical duel with US Academy side Speed Girls SA, but the Panthers managed to seal a 2-0 victory.

They then faced a solid Swedish team, Sollentuna Utd, and at half time the Panthers had two key players out with injuries following some alarming and menacing play from some of the Swedish team. The match ended up as a 1-1 draw but the Panthers ended with 4 players off injured and lots of off ball incidents that necessitated an official complaint to the organisers... Nevertheless, the Panthers finished top with 7 points from 9 and went into the 'A' seeded Finals group which was an improvement on last year.

In the opening match of the 'winners' group, the Panthers deservedly beat another Swedish team, IK Franke 1-0, then met the very tough Canadians, Comox Valley.

It was another physical game, but more sporting and the Panthers stood up well despite their smaller stature. The match ended 1-1 but was marred by a heavy challenge from one of the Canadian midfield players that bowled over one of the Panthers full backs (and our largest player) and broke her collarbone, unfortunately ending her tournament.

The next match saw the Panthers play an English team from Portsmouth, Meon Milton, and again physically outgunned the Panthers but our quick passing and movement saw the team through with a 2-2 draw.

The final group match was now all important in terms of qualifying for the Final. The English team had 4 points but were now playing IK Franke from Sweden who were out of the running following two defeats. The Canadians had finished on 5 points. The Panthers were also on 5 points but now facing the hot favourites in the last match, Skiljebo SK, who had 7 points and topped the group. If Meon Milton won their final match (and on form with every chance of doing so) the Panthers would need to beat the favourites, or draw and hope that the goal difference was favourable.

If the Panthers lost and Meon Milton won it would be all over for us, if we both lost then the Canadians could sneak through on goal difference.

If the end, after some heroic play across the whole of the park, the Panthers held the relative giants of Skiljebo (Stockholm) to a 1-1 draw. Bearing in mind that the Swedes were aged 15 with two U17 international players (including the Swedish Team captain), this was an outstanding result. Combined with the fact that the English could only draw with the other Swedish team 2-2 meant that the Panthers were in the 'A' Final versus Skiljebo once again.

They beat us convincingly in the Final 3-0 the following day but with their medals and large Runners Up Cup the girls from the small market town of Crickhowell (pop 4,500) were more than happy."

Article witten by Gail Harris