The Stevenage Borough Juniors U16 Giants faced off against Hoddesdon Town U16 Whites at Barnwell Upper School on 24 November 2024, with kick-off at 10:30 am. Played in very testing windy conditions the match concluded with a resounding 6-3 victory for the Giants.
The Giants lined up in a dynamic 3-4-3 formation, designed to maximise their offensive capabilities while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Saba Rajaloo took his place in goal, with C.J Meadows, Joel Adeniyi, and Joseph Akhidenor forming a sturdy back three. The midfield quartet comprised Michael Sarpong and Jack Kenward on the flanks, with Archie Briars and Reegan Spencer occupying central roles. Up front, the attacking trio featured Khaya Ngwenya and Charlie Dempster supporting the central striker, Masireh Sidibeh.
The bench included substitutes Ally Ashter and Adrian Ciosek, who would later play pivotal roles in the match as tactical changes were made.
The match began with an early scare for the Giants as Saba Rajaloo was forced into a full-stretch save just three minutes in, demonstrating his agility and reflexes. Khaya Ngwenya quickly responded with an attempt that went wide, followed by another effort that was saved in the 13th minute. The Giants were pressing hard for an opening goal, and Masireh Sidibeh also had a shot saved in the 15th minute, as the pressure mounted on the Hoddesdon defence.
Finally, the breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Khaya Ngwenya found the net, converting a brilliant defence splitting pass from Michael Sarpong with a precise left-footed finish from close range. The Giants were buoyed by this goal and continued to create chances, with Masireh Sidibeh again being denied by the Hoddesdon goalkeeper in the 21st minute.
Archie Briars doubled the lead in the 37th minute, finishing off a well-worked move with a right-footed strike after receiving a short pass from Ngwenya. The Giants were in control, but they still sought to extend their advantage, with Sidibeh's attempts in the 39th minute also thwarted.
As the first half drew to a close, the Giants led 2-0, and the players headed into the break with confidence. The half time break saw tactical changes, with Adrian Ciosek and Ally Ashter coming on for Michael Sarpong and Charlie Dempster, respectively.
The Giants continued their attacking momentum, with Ciosek's first attempt going wide in the 44th minute. The 51st minute saw a penalty awarded to the Giants for a foul on Jack Kenward, who was then sent to the sin bin for 5 mins, Archie Briars convert a penalty, extending the lead to 3-0. Just a minute later, Ciosek added to the tally with a delightful shot, making it 4-0 and putting the Giants firmly in control.
However, Hoddesdon responded with a goal of their own in the 57th minute, scoring from inside the box to reduce the deficit to 4-1. The Giants remained undeterred, and in the 55th minute, Briars completed his hat-trick with a stunning long-range strike, assisted by Ashter, restoring a three-goal cushion.
As the match progressed, Hoddesdon managed to find the net again in the 71st minute, scoring from close range to make it 5-2. The Giants made further substitutions, bringing back Sarpong for Briars in the 70th minute and introducing Dempster for Sidibeh shortly after.
Hoddesdon continued to push, and in the 79th minute, they were awarded a penalty, which they converted, bringing the score to 5-3. The Giants, however, were not finished yet. In the 84th minute, Ally Ashter capped off a fine performance by scoring from inside the box, assisted by Joel Adeniyi, sealing the match at 6-3.
The Giants' attacking display and above all hard work, combined with their tactical substitutions, proved decisive in this thrilling and highly charged league encounter.
