THE New Norfolk Panthers Women took to the field last Sunday at Tynwald with purpose in their stride and fire already brewing. From the moment the first whistle blew, the Panthers set the tone – relentless pressure, confident possession and wave after wave of attacking football that immediately forced Hobart United onto the back foot.
The early minutes were a showcase of crisp passing, smart movement and powerful shots that skimmed just wide or were denied by the smallest margins. The breakthrough finally came in the 17th minute: Sarah Barnett sliced through Hobart’s defensive line and delivered a perfectly weighted ball across the face of goal, where Tegan Turner pounced and slipped it past the keeper. The Panthers carried that hard‑earned 1-0 lead into the break, heads high and momentum building.
Half-time brought an inspiring message from coach Andrew Nichols and whatever he said lit a spark. The Panthers stormed back onto the pitch with renewed hunger – and it showed instantly. Caitlin Roughsedge found the net twice within minutes of the restart, each finish more composed than the last, pushing the score to 3–0 and sending the home crowd into full voice.
But the Panthers weren’t done. Not even close. Sarah Barnett, already having a standout match, made an electrifying run down the wing before burying her first goal of the season. The celebrations were fierce – teammates swarming, supporters roaring, the whole club buzzing.
Then came the moment every striker dreams of: Caitlin Roughsedge completed her hat-trick, hammering home her third goal of the day and cementing her dominance up front. Still, the Panthers kept pushing and the goals kept coming. Samantha Tassell, determined to join the scoresheet, powered through the defence and slotted home the sixth.
In the dying minutes, riding the adrenaline of a near‑perfect performance, Renee Birchall found her moment – a clean finish that sealed the match at 7-0. It was a statement win. A much needed and well-deserved win. After a few tough weeks, the Panthers reminded everyone exactly what they’re capable of: unity, grit and football played with heart.
The celebrations didn’t end at the final whistle. With the men also securing victory and the clubrooms packed to watch the Socceroos claim their own win, the atmosphere at the New Norfolk Panthers clubrooms was electric – a day of football the whole club will remember.
ERIN TURNER
JUNIOR RESULTS
Under 5:v The team played against Brighton Storm (Yellow) at Brighton last Saturday. The wind didn’t stop our team from working together to have a great game. We saw a real improvement in passing this week and the MVP Award went to Ned for his super goal and improved dribbling.
Under 6 Black: We played Holy Rosary and the improvement seen in our team since they first played Holy Rosary was huge. We saw some great defence work from Francis and some great fast foot work by Rosie, Xavier and Ruby. The Panthers show excellent defence work. Once they understand to attack the ball and to follow through, they will be a real force. The weather was windy, making it hard for everyone to hear however they still played with great team work.
Under 7: The team played Holy Rosary on the weekend and just keeps improving, particularly in defence. The defensive effort was much stronger, with everyone contributing to protecting the goal and supporting each other across the field. One of the highlights of the match was the excellent sportsmanship shown by all players. Everyone played fairly, encouraged their teammates and showed respect to everyone at the game. It was wonderful to see players celebrating each other’s successes and helping one another throughout the game. Most importantly, every player gave their best effort from start to finish. The enthusiasm, determination and positive attitude displayed by the team was outstanding. The coaches and supporters were proud to see everyone trying their hardest, working together and having fun while continuing to develop their soccer skills. Well done to all players on a great team performance.
Under 8 Red v Under 8 Black: Brighton was the setting for the seventh match of the season for the Panthers Under-8s. After a fixture was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions and a long weekend break, the team returned to action following a well-earned rest for players and families alike. Saturday morning brought an unexpected gift for a Tasmanian winter day: sunshine and a gentle breeze providing perfect conditions for football. Under-8 Red took to the pitch with a full squad. Lewis continued to grow in confidence in goal, while Clementine, Jonah, James, Liam, Edith, Isabelle, Austin, Mathias and Mila completed the enthusiastic andbenergetic team. Edith had the honour of wearing the captain’s armband on this occasion, leading her teammates with positivity, commitment and a fantastic attitude both on and off the pitch. The match began with the classic 4-4-2 formation: a solid defensive line; midfielders stretching the wings; and two strikers up front. Did you actually think we were going to start by talking about tactics? Not at all. The reality is much simpler and much more important. Our boys and girls just wanted to have fun. Some of them are starting to learn about positions, strategies and different systems of play. However, our goal at this age isn’t to fill whiteboards or memorise formations. The most important thing is to help young people grow into confident, respectful and happy individuals. We want every child to finish a match thinking, “I can do this!” “My family supports me.” “My teammates believe in me.” “I can always give my best”. That’s why we continue to focus on values such as respect, teamwork, empathy and mutual support. These lessons extend far beyond football and will help shape these young players both on and off the pitch. After all, at eight years old, learning to believe in yourself is far more important than knowing where to stand on the pitch. Football skills will come with time, but confidence, respect, friendship and a love for the game are the real victories that we hope to foster from day one. If every player heads home with a smile on their face, feeling valued and proud of themselves, then we’ve already won the most important match of all. (No report received from Under 8 Black)
Under 9 Red: What a fantastic effort. This was undoubtedly our best game of the season so far. It was great to see all the skills and teamwork we have been focusing on at training put into practice on the field. The team’s performance showed that junior sport is not just about winning, but about learning, improving and growing together as a team. Their couldn’t be prouder of the effort, determination, and positive attitude shown by every player. A special congratulations goes to Toby, who was both game day captain and MVP. Well done, Toby, on an outstanding performance and leadership throughout the game. Great job, team – keep up the amazing work.
Under 9 White: The Panthers faced off against the Brighton Storm at the new ground in a highly competitive match. The two teams were evenly matched throughout, trading momentum back and forth in a tight, hard-fought contest. Both sides showed great energy and enthusiasm, with players giving their all in every passage of play. It was a fantastic display of junior soccer, reflecting the spirit and growing competitiveness of the local league.
Under 10 Red: A great game against St Paul’s with some really strong goals from Amy, Flo, Lincoln and Jasper. They did a great job holding their positions and started connecting long passes down the sidelines. Thank you to the players from Under 10 Black for filling in.
Under 10 Black: We took on Brighton storm on Saturday, with all 12 players turning up. The team continued to improve with its passes and kicks and also starting to find positions on the field. There were some good goal saves by our goalies as well as goals scored by Logan Chalker who likes to stay in defence. Logan took home the coaches award.
Under 11 Red: We travelled to Cambridge on Saturday to take on Montagu Bay. It was a challenging game against a very strong team and the score didn’t reflect on how well the kids played. They displayed great team work and excellent encouragement to each other. Paige and Chelsea were superb as goalies, stopping numerous attacks coming in. Mylah had a good game in defence earning her the MVP. Overall it was great team effort.
Under 12 Black: The team had a great competitive game against Bellerive at Brighton on Saturday. Once they got their defence sorted out they moved quickly to the ball and saw some great movement of the ball up the sidelines. The forwards did a great job connecting their passes and Spencer scored his first soccer goal. Winston and Sam also found the back of the net. The MVP award went to Sam Madden for moving into the right spots at the right time and connecting well with the ball.
Under 12 Red: The team travelled to Cambridge for this match with Lauderdale. The sun was shining, but the wind was out in full force. The team showed great determination throughout the game, with some excellent defensive work preventing scoring opportunities, including an offside goal. There were also some strong attacking plays, with a number of good shots on goal creating plenty of chances. Teamwork was a highlight of the match, with players supporting each other across the field and working well together. In goal, there were some outstanding saves that helped keep the team in the contest. Overall, it was a great team effort, with everyone contributing and displaying a positive attitude throughout the game.
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