On 22nd September 2024, Lads Club U12 faced off against Ludlow U12 at the SBS Stadium, Ludlow Town Ground, in a league away match that kicked off at 11:00 am. The Lads Club delivered a commanding performance, emerging victorious with a staggering score of 13-0, showcasing both their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
Lads Club adopted a 2-5-1 formation, a tactical setup that prioritises midfield dominance while maintaining a solid defensive backbone. Lucas Price anchored the goal, supported by two central defenders, Archie Rigby and Louis Howells. The midfield was packed with creativity and energy, featuring right midfielder Romeo Roberts, left midfielder Charlie Arnold, and central midfielders Fin Jones, Charlie Swain, and Flyn Watkins. Up front, Oscar Jones played as the lone striker, expected to spearhead the attack with his pace and finishing ability.
The substitutes for the match consisted of the talented trio Chase Bracegirdle, Thomi Scoular, and Musa Touray.
The match began in sensational fashion with Lads Club making their intentions clear right from the first whistle. Oscar Jones opened the scoring just one minute into the match, finishing off a well-worked team move assisted by Romeo Roberts. Less than a minute later, Jones struck the post but quickly recovered, finding the net again at the three-minute mark with a precise shot using his right foot (coach Price had told him it's not just for standing on!)
The goals kept coming as Charlie Swain set up Jones for his third of the day in the sixth minute, with a well-timed long pass that allowed the striker to score with his left foot. Lads Club continued to pile on the pressure, and Fin Jones added another goal just moments later in the ninth minute, firmly establishing their dominance.
Despite hitting the post again, this time from Charlie Swain in the eighth minute, Lads Club were relentless. Archie Rigby then added to the tally in the 11th minute, converting a corner delivered by Charlie Arnold, showcasing their set-piece effectiveness.
As substitutions began, Chase Bracegirdle replaced Flyn Watkins in the 14th minute, followed shortly by Thomi Scoular coming on for Charlie Arnold, and Musa Touray replacing Fin Jones. The fresh legs continued to invigorate Lads Club's performance, with Oscar Jones netting his fourth goal in the 16th minute with a stunning solo effort.
Thomi Scoular made his presence felt quickly after entering the field, scoring a header from an Oscar Jones assist in the 17th minute. Jones then continued his scoring spree, netting his fifth of the match in style with a close-range effort following a long pass from Chase Bracegirdle at the 22-minute mark. The goals kept flowing, with Jones striking from distance for his sixth of the match just before half-time, a long-range effort that had the whole squad buzzing.
As the teams went into the half-time break at 35 minutes, Lads Club had firmly established a commanding lead.
The second half began with Thomi Scoular's attempt being saved shortly after the restart. Charlie Arnold scored the first goal of the half in the 39th minute, showcasing excellent teamwork as he finished a move initiated by Flyn Watkins with his right foot.
Scoular continued to shine by scoring his second of the match in the 40th minute, heading home from another corner delivered by Bracegirdle, further asserting Lads Club's dominance. Additional substitutions were made soon after, with Chase Bracegirdle taking Lucas Price’s place in goal for tactical reasons.
Louis Howells then joined the scoresheet in the 48th minute, scrambling in a close-range effort from a messy goalmouth situation, extending the scoreline to a staggering 10-0.
The substitutions continued with Oscar Jones returning to the pitch as Thomi Scoular made way, and goalkeeper Lucas Price resumed his place on the pitch but within the outfield players shortly after.
As the match neared its conclusion, Jones had another couple of attempts but was denied before finally scoring his seventh and final goal in the 60th minute with a spectacular long-range strike, capping off an extraordinary individual display.
Ultimately, Lads Club U12’s 13 goals to nil victory over Ludlow U12 illustrated not just their attacking verve, but also their defensive strength, leaving a lasting impression on the spectators and establishing a clear message to their rivals in the league.
The scoreline showed that Lads Club Juniors meant business and they proved they could start with high energy and passion, something that had been missing in past games. Due to the team effort today all players were rewarded with the player of the match status. The team will take a long earned rest before taking on a challenging pegasus team next week.
