East Grinstead Town delivered a stunning performance at Grattons Park on 13 October 2024, overwhelming Gatwick Warriors U14 with a resounding 12-1 victory in their cup away match. The match kicked off at 12:00pm, and the home side showcased their attacking prowess from the very first whistle.
East Grinstead Town lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, a classic setup that allowed them to dominate both the midfield and the flanks. Josh Goody took his place in goal, while the back four consisted of Mason Terry and Tommy Clarabut as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Sam Gadd and Adam Bannister forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Max Dodson and Tom Piper operated on the right and left flanks, while Logan Cooney and Bobby Lindsey held the central positions. Up front, Harry Goodall and Haydon Davis were tasked with leading the attack.
The substitutes for East Grinstead Town included Mason Malone and Dexter Sudbury, who would later be called upon to make tactical changes during the match.
The scoring began early, with Max Dodson finding the net just three minutes in, courtesy of a precise cross from Harry Goodall. The home side's momentum continued as Haydon Davis doubled the lead just two minutes later, again assisted by Goodall, who was proving to be a constant threat down the right flank.
Harry Goodall then got on the scoresheet himself in the 15th minute, heading in from a corner delivered by Dodson. Just two minutes later, Goodall struck again, finishing from close range after a well-placed cross from Davis, putting East Grinstead Town firmly in control at 4-0.
In a tactical move, East Grinstead made two substitutions in the 20th minute, bringing on Mason Malone for Haydon Davis and Dexter Sudbury for Logan Cooney. The changes did not disrupt their rhythm, as Haydon Davis soon returned to the pitch, replacing Goodall in the 35th minute, while Logan Cooney came back on for Adam Bannister.
The goals kept coming, with Haydon Davis scoring again in the 22nd minute, this time assisted by Cooney with a short pass. Just two minutes later, Goodall was involved again, setting up Tom Piper for a goal in the 32nd minute, extending the lead to 6-0 before half-time.
The first half concluded with East Grinstead Town leading 6-0, and they resumed the second half with the same intensity. Haydon Davis scored his hat-trick in the 42nd minute, assisted by Max Dodson, who was having a standout game.
Logan Cooney then added to the tally in the 48th minute, heading in from a corner delivered by Dodson, showcasing the team's aerial threat.
In the 55th minute, East Grinstead made further substitutions, with Harry Goodall returning to the pitch for Bobby Lindsey and Adam Bannister coming back on for Sam Gadd.
Tom Piper scored his second goal of the match in the 59th minute, tapping in from close range after a short pass from Dodson, bringing the score to 8-0.
Gatwick Warriors U14 managed to find a consolation goal in the 61st minute, a fluke strike from outside the box that caught the East Grinstead defence off guard. However, this did little to dampen the spirits of the home side.
East Grinstead responded quickly, with Dexter Sudbury scoring a long-range strike in the 66th minute, assisted by Malone, restoring their eight-goal advantage.
The scoring was capped off in the 69th minute when Haydon Davis netted his fourth goal of the match, finishing from inside the box after a cross from Tom Piper, bringing the final score to an emphatic 12-1.
Max Dodson and Harry Goodall were undoubtedly the standout performers of the match, each contributing significantly to the team's success. East Grinstead Town's dominant display will surely be remembered as they progress further in the cup competition.
