In a thrilling cup encounter at Hawkley JFC U15s on 19 January 2025, Euxton Villa U15 Black showcased their attacking prowess, securing a resounding 8-3 victory over their opponents, Hawkley U15s. The match kicked off at 10:30 am and saw the visitors dominate the game with a flurry of goals, proving their mettle in this knockout competition.
Euxton Villa lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Adam Tucker stationed as the goalkeeper. The defensive trio consisted of Colin Plewa in the centre, flanked by Jayden Moffatt on the right and Finlay Mann on the left. In midfield, Luke Whelan occupied the right side, while Roman Taylor took up the left flank, providing width and support to the central pairing of Ethan Bingham, Freddie Beanland and Oliver Gardner. Up front, William Murray and Zak Whalley formed a dynamic forward partnership, tasked with converting chances into goals.
The substitutes for Euxton Villa included Junior Cummins, Lucas Harvey, and Louis Grant, who would later play pivotal roles as the match progressed.
The action began early, with Ethan Bingham opening the scoring just two minutes in, unleashing a long-range strike after receiving a short pass from Zak Whalley. The referee made the decision that the ball bulging the back of the net and bounce about a yard over the line, that this was in fact a save from the keeper and disallowed the goal. However, Hawkley responded swiftly, converting in the third minute with a solo goal that caught the Villa defence off-guard. The home side then took a decisive lead in the eighth minute, scoring with a lob from outside the box, leaving Adam Tucker with little chance to react as he had committed to come out to challenge the lone striker.
Despite the early setback, Euxton Villa quickly regained their composure. Zak Whalley netted the first comeback goal in the 11th minute, finishing off a well-executed team move with a left-footed shot, assisted by William Murray. Just four minutes later, Murray himself found the net, converting a close-range effort after a short pass from Oliver Gardner. The Villa forward then added another to his tally in the 16th minute, scoring a solo goal with a right-footed strike, assisted by Jayden Moffatt's long pass.
The relentless Villa attack continued, with Oliver Gardner scoring a stunning goal from outside the box in the 31st minute, assisted by Bingham. Unfortunately, Bingham had to leave the pitch shortly after due to injury, making way for Junior Cummins. William Murray nearly added to his tally in the 34th minute, but his effort was saved by the Hawkley goalkeeper.
As the first half drew to a close, Roman Taylor scored in the 40th minute, converting a chance inside the box with a left-footed shot, assisted by Murray. The half-time whistle blew with Euxton Villa leading 5-2, a commanding position that showcased their attacking flair.
The second half saw tactical changes for Villa, with Lucas Harvey replacing Luke Whelan and Louis Grant coming on for Roman Taylor. Just after the break, in the 44th minute, Grant marked his introduction with a goal, converting a free kick from close range, assisted by goalkeeper Adam Tucker.
Roman Taylor found the net again in the 48th minute, scoring with a left-footed shot after receiving a short pass from Murray, extending the lead to 7-2. Lucas Harvey then got in on the act in the 50th minute, scoring a long-range strike with his right foot, assisted by Junior Cummins.
Hawkley managed to pull one back in the 74th minute, scoring from a goalmouth scramble, but it was merely a consolation as the visitors continued to dominate. In the 78th minute, William Murray was adjudged offside after a mistimed run, though the decision was questionable.
As the final whistle blew, Euxton Villa U15 Black celebrated a comprehensive 8-3 victory, a testament to their attacking prowess and teamwork. Finlay Mann's solid performance in defence earned him the accolade of Player of the Match, highlighting the importance of both ends of the pitch in this emphatic cup win.
