In an enthralling cup encounter held at Hereford Lads Club with a packed out side line of adoring fans on 29th September 2024, Lads Club U12 were unable to secure victory against Pegasus Colts U12, losing 2-4. The match, which kicked off at 10:30 am, showcased both teams’ determination but ultimately saw Lads Club Juniors exit the competition.
The Lads Club Juniors adopted thier usual 2-5-1 formation, designed to provide a strong midfield presence while ensuring defensive solidity. Lucas Price took his place in goal, backed by central defenders Archie Rigby and Louis Howells. In the midfield, Thomi Scoular, Charlie Swain, and Flyn Watkins operated as central midfielders, while Romeo Roberts and Charlie Arnold provided width as right and left midfielders. Oscar Jones was the lone striker, tasked with spearheading the attack and converting any chances that came his way. The substitutes comprised Finn Jones, Musa Touray, Chase Bracegirdle, and Mali Lewis, poised to make an impact from the bench.
The match commenced at a rapid pace, with Pegasus Colts striking first only one minute in. A well-placed shot from the right foot of an opponent sent an early message to Lads Club, as they quickly found themselves trailing. Lucas Price was called into action early and demonstrated his reflexes with a point-blank reaction save in the 7th minute, keeping the deficit to just one goal.
However, despite Lads Club's efforts, they fell further behind in the 14th minute when Pegasus Colts added another goal, again scored with a right-footed strike. In an effort to shift momentum, Lads Club made a triple substitution around the 16-minute mark, introducing Finn Jones, Musa Touray, and Chase Bracegirdle to inject fresh energy into the side.
Oscar Jones provided a moment of hope for Lads Club in the 19th minute, scoring a well taken goal with his left foot after a well-crafted team move, bringing the score to 2-1. Yet, the joy was short-lived, as Lads Club conceded once more in the 27th minute, with Pegasus Colts scoring a right-footed goal that left Price with little chance.
As the first half drew to a close, Lads Club continued to press for an equaliser but were unable to convert their attempts, including a right footed strike from Oscar Jones that went wide in the 25th minute. The half-time whistle blew with Lads Club trailing by two goals, a deficit that would require a significant turnaround in the second half.
The second half saw Lads Club make further changes with Charlie Arnold and Mali Lewis entering the fray shortly after the restart. Lucas Price showcased his goalkeeping prowess again with a full stretch save in the 40th minute, testament to his resilience despite the scoreline.
However, the game slipped further away from Lads Club when Pegasus Colts found the net for the fourth time just two minutes into the second half. Lads Club were not finished yet, as Charlie Swain managed to score a penalty in the 48th minute, reducing the gap to 4-2 and igniting hopes of a comeback.
Lucas Price remained a standout performer, pulling off another point-blank save immediately after conceding, a testament to his commitment and skill. As the final stages of the match approached, Lads Club changed their personnel again, with further substitutions aimed at boosting their attacking options.
Despite the efforts from the team, including shots from Oscar Jones that failed to find the target, time ran out for Lads Club as they were ultimately unable to erase the deficit. The final whistle confirmed a disappointing but competitive day for Lads Club U12, as they bowed out of the cup against a physical, well drilled Pegasus Colts U12 side. Lads Club Juniors can hold thier heads high though showing great resilience and determination against an older, more experienced Pegasus side. Lucas Price bravely managed his goal area today and was rewarded with player of the match.
