In a thrilling cup encounter held at Tenbury on 12 October 2024, Lads Club Juniors U11 showcased their attacking prowess, defeating Tenbury United U11 with a resounding scoreline of 6-1. The match kicked off at 10:30 am and saw a lathargic performance from the Juniors, who took an age to click and start working as a team.
Lads Club Juniors adopted a 2-5-1 formation, with Romeo Roberts stationed as the goalkeeper. The defensive duo of Archie Rigby and Louis Howells formed the backbone of the team, providing stability at the back. In midfield, Chase Bracegirdle operated on the right, while Charlie Arnold took up the left flank, both tasked with supporting the attack and tracking back defensively. Central midfielders Thomi Scoular, Flyn Watkins, and Lucas Price were expected to control the game's tempo and link up play effectively. Up front, Oscar Jones led the line as the sole striker, looking to exploit any defensive lapses from the opposition.
The substitutes for Lads Club Juniors included Musa Touray and Finn Jones, who would later play crucial roles in the match.
The match began with an early opportunity for Lads Club Juniors when Thomi Scoular was awarded a penalty in the fourth minute. However, his attempt went wide, a missed chance that could have set the tone for the match. Just a minute later, Scoular was involved again, this time committing a foul with a trip awarding a free kick to Tenbury.
As the game progressed, Chase Bracegirdle also gave away a free kick with a late tackle in the ninth minute, highlighting the physical nature of the contest. Tactical changes were made shortly after, with Musa Touray and Finn Jones coming on for Oscar Jones and Chase Bracegirdle in the 10th minute, indicating a shift in strategy from the Juniors.
In the 11th minute, Scoular attempted to make amends for his earlier penalty miss but shot wide of the left post. In the 14th minute Oscar came back on for Thomi, who quickly made an impact by scoring the opening goal in the 15th minute, finishing at the near post inside the box .
Romeo Roberts, the goalkeeper, was called into action shortly after, making an interception in the 16th minute, followed by a crucial tackle from Louis Howells in the 17th minute that prevented a chance for Tenbury. Roberts continued to demonstrate his skills with another interception in the 22nd minute, showcasing his importance to the team.
Despite Lads Club Juniors' dominance, Tenbury United managed to equalise in the 27th minute with a well-placed shot from the right foot of one of their forwards, momentarily dampening the spirits of the Juniors. However, the response was swift, when Oscar laid off a pass to Lucas Price who rifled a long range shot that was deflected past the keeper.
Just a minute later, Oscar Jones himself found the net again, this time with a close-range finish, assisted by Lucas Price, extending the lead to 3-1.
Finn Jones then joined the scoring in the 37th minute, netting another goal with an assist from Oscar Jones, who was having a standout performance. The Juniors were relentless, and Charlie Arnold added to the tally in the 45th minute, scoring with his right foot after receiving a short pass from Lucas Price.
As the match continued, Thomi Scoular attempted to get on the scoresheet but was denied by a save in the 38th minute. Roberts showcased his goalkeeping prowess again with a parry shortly after. Chase Bracegirdle had another attempt saved in the 42nd minute, but the Juniors were not to be denied.
Finn Jones capped off a remarkable performance by scoring his second goal in the 54th minute, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper with an assist from Oscar Jones, who was involved in many of the attacking moves. Musa Touray came on for Charlie Arnold in the 55th.
The match ended with Lads Club Juniors U11 emerging victorious, the match was scrappy with the Lads Club Juniors taken too long to move the ball out to the winners and show the teamwork that they are known for. Romeo Roberts came away with the Player of the Match accolade for his solid performance in goal ??.
