In a commanding display of football, East Grinstead Town faced off against Buxted U14 Rangers in a cup match at Edenbridge RFC on 6th October 2024. The match kicked off at 10:00 am and concluded with an emphatic scoreline of 11-0 in favour of the home side, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity throughout the encounter.
East Grinstead Town lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, which allowed them to maintain a strong defensive structure while providing ample support for their forwards. Josh Goody took his position in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Tim Greenyner on the right, Bobby Lindsey and Charlie Walton in central defence, and Tommy Clarabut on the left. The midfield was composed of Max Dodson on the right, Toby Broughton and Logan Cooney in central roles, and Mason Malone on the left. Up front, Haydon Davis and Tom Piper formed a dynamic partnership, looking to exploit any defensive lapses from the opposition.
The substitutes for East Grinstead Town included Sam Gadd, Adam Bannister, Mason Terry, Dexter Sudbury, and Harry Goodall, providing depth and tactical options for the manager as the match progressed.
The scoring opened in the 25th minute when Mason Malone unleashed a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box, following a short pass from Toby Broughton. This goal set the tone for the rest of the match, as East Grinstead Town began to assert their dominance.
Just two minutes later, in the 27th minute, Haydon Davis doubled the lead with a close-range finish, expertly assisted by Max Dodson's cross. The home side's confidence surged, and they continued to press forward.
In the 33rd minute, Malone struck again, this time with a header from another assist by Broughton, further extending the lead to 3-0. The relentless pressure from East Grinstead Town was evident, and they were not finished yet.
As the first half drew to a close, several substitutions were made to maintain the team's momentum. Dexter Sudbury replaced Broughton, while Harry Goodall came on for Davis, and Mason Terry took over from Greenyner. Adam Bannister also entered the fray, replacing Walton, all occurring around the 35-minute mark.
The first half concluded with East Grinstead Town leading 3-0, but the second half promised more action.
The scoring resumed shortly after the break when Max Dodson netted his first of the match in the 42nd minute with a lob from long range, showcasing his skill and vision. Just eight minutes later, in the 50th minute, Dodson struck again, this time converting a cross from Malone, bringing the score to 5-0.
Logan Cooney added to the tally in the 56th minute, finishing from close range after a short pass from Tom Piper, demonstrating the team's fluid attacking play.
In the 60th minute, East Grinstead Town made further tactical changes, with Bobby Lindsey returning to the pitch in place of Dodson, while Haydon Davis and Toby Broughton also re-entered the game, replacing Malone and Cooney respectively.
The goals kept coming as Dexter Sudbury scored his first of the match in the 60th minute, converting a close-range effort following a cross from Mason Terry. This marked the sixth goal for East Grinstead Town.
The 64th minute saw Broughton score again, this time from a short pass by Tom Piper, showcasing the team's cohesive attacking play and teamwork.
Sudbury then added his second goal in the 67th minute, striking from outside the box after receiving a short pass from Harry Goodall, further emphasising East Grinstead Town's dominance.
The final goal of the match came in the 69th minute when Haydon Davis scored from outside the area, assisted by Tommy Clarabut, sealing an astonishing 11-0 victory for East Grinstead Town.
The referee, Tom Hayward, oversaw a match that was largely one-sided, with East Grinstead Town displaying their attacking flair and defensive organisation, leaving Buxted U14 Rangers with little room to manoeuvre. The result reflects the home side's impressive form and sets a high standard for their upcoming fixtures.
