Clanfield Robins faced off against Harwell and Hendred Youth U15 Black in a thrilling league match at Clanfield Football Club on 16 March 2025. The match, which kicked off at 10:00 am, ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw, showcasing a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams and their supporters.
The Clanfield Robins lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for width in attack. Fynn Howlett took his position in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Owen Morrison and Sam Crook as the right and left defenders respectively, with Oliver Smith and Conrad Eduah occupying the central defensive roles. In midfield, Ben Wright and Louie Johnson operated on the right and left flanks, while Harvey Minion and Wojciech Korniluk formed a central partnership, tasked with linking play and supporting the forwards. Up front, Joe Osborne and Luca Roberts were set to lead the line, with an expectation to convert chances into goals.
The substitutes for Clanfield Robins included Sam Leahy and Beau Keeble, who were poised to make an impact from the bench as the match unfolded.
The game began with Harwell and Hendred Youth U15 Black asserting their dominance early on despite a bright start from the home side. In the 12th minute, they struck first, finding the back of the net from inside the box with a well-placed right-footed shot. Just four minutes later, they doubled their lead, leaving Clanfield Robins in a precarious position. The visitors continued to apply pressure, and by the 24th minute, they had scored a third goal, seemingly putting the match beyond the reach of the Robins.
In response to the mounting pressure, Clanfield made a tactical substitution in the 25th minute, bringing on Sam Leahy for Louie Johnson. This change aimed to inject fresh energy into the midfield. Shortly thereafter, in the 29th minute, Beau Keeble replaced Ben Wright, further altering the dynamics of the game.
The turning point for Clanfield arrived in the 35th minute when Luca Roberts, assisted by the newly introduced Beau Keeble, scored with a precise right-footed shot, igniting hope for the home side. The first half concluded with the score at 3-1 in favour of Harwell, leaving Clanfield with much to do in the second half.
As the second half commenced, Clanfield Robins looked rejuvenated. In the 63rd minute, they made another substitution, reintroducing Ben Wright in place of Owen Morrison, aiming to bolster their attacking options. The Robins' persistence paid off in the 66th minute when Luca Roberts scored again, this time with a header from a corner taken by Joe Osborne, narrowing the deficit to 3-2.
The momentum shifted firmly in favour of Clanfield, and in the 67th minute, Louie Johnson returned to the fray, replacing Beau Keeble. With renewed vigour, the Robins continued to press for an equaliser. Their efforts culminated in the 79th minute when Luca Roberts completed his hat-trick, scoring a solo goal with a right-footed shot after a clever short pass from Johnson. The score was now level at 3-3, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Despite Clanfield pushing for a late winner, the match concluded in a thrilling draw, with Clanfield Robins demonstrating remarkable resilience to claw back from a three-goal deficit. The performance of Luca Roberts was particularly noteworthy, earning him the title of Player of the Match for his outstanding contribution.
