In an exhilarating encounter at Failsworth Sports Campus on 23 February 2025, Footytotz’s Allstars stepped up to U7’s and faced off against The Devils Destroyers in a league match that ended with a scoreline of 4-7. The match kicked off at 11:30am, showcasing a thrilling display of youth football that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Footytotz’s Allstars adopted a 1-2-1 formation, with Nelson Slater starting as the goalkeeper. The defensive duties fell to Serge Atkins, who played as the central defender, while Oliver Davies and Quinton Slater operated as central midfielders, tasked with both supporting the attack and providing cover defensively. Up front, Jace Riley led the line as the striker, expected to convert chances into goals and apply pressure on the opposition's defence.
The substitutes for the Allstars included Albie Hardy and Cooper Jackson, who would later play pivotal roles in the match as the game unfolded.
The match began with a swift goal from the Devils Destroyers, who took the lead just one minute in, catching the Allstars off guard. In response, Footytotz’s Allstars made an early double substitution in the sixth minute, bringing on Albie Hardy for Serge Atkins and Cooper Jackson for Oliver Davies, aiming to inject fresh energy into the game.
As the match progressed, Jace Riley was substituted off for Oliver Davies in the 11th minute, while Serge Atkins returned to replace Quinton Slater. The Allstars were keen to regain control, but the Devils Destroyers struck again in the 21st minute, extending their lead.
In a bid to turn the tide, the Allstars made further changes, with Cooper Jackson coming on for Quinton Slater and Albie Hardy replacing Serge Atkins, both in the 21st minute. However, the Devils Destroyers continued to dominate, scoring once more just two minutes into the second half, making it 3-0.
Despite the mounting pressure, Jace Riley managed to pull one back for Footytotz’s Allstars in the 25th minute with a brilliant solo effort, then finishing from close range, showcasing his skill and determination. This goal sparked a glimmer of hope for the Allstars, but the Devils responded immediately, scoring again in the 32nd minute to restore their three-goal advantage.
The relentless pace of the match saw the Devils score again in the 33rd minute, pushing the score to 5-1. Footytotz’s Allstars made another substitution, with Quinton Slater coming on for Oliver Davies in the 33rd minute, as they sought to bolster their midfield.
Jace Riley found the net again in the 34th minute, bringing the score to 5-2, before the Devils struck once more in the 36th minute, making it 6-2.
The Allstars were not done yet, as Jace Riley completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute, assisted by Cooper Jackson whose shot rebounded off the post, narrowing the deficit to 6-3. However, the Devils Destroyers were quick to respond once again in the 41st minute, pushing the score to 7-3.
In the dying moments, Jace Riley managed to score his fourth goal of the match, bringing the deficit back to a respectable 3 goals.
The Allstars made their final substitutions in the 45th minute, with Serge Atkins coming on for Oliver Davies and Nelson Slater replacing Jace Riley, who had been instrumental throughout the match.
The comeback was not to be today and the final whistle blew, ending a thrilling encounter 7-4 in favour of the Devils Destroyers. Despite the defeat, Riley’s performance working relentlessly up and down the pitch coupled with his four goals earned him recognition as one of the players of the match alongside Albie Hardy who was a rock at the back today. His performance was standout not just defensively but also for his composure when distributing the ball forwards. The score would have been undoubtedly wider if not for him.
Moment of the match goes to Nelson Slater who whilst in net put on an artistic acrobatic display including cart wheels, handstands and impressive 10 second head stand!
After weeks of being unchallenged The Allstars will learn a lot from this encounter, they will now look to regroup and take this experience into their as next challenge.
