Stogursey First secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Wellington AFC A in a thrilling league match held at Trippets Stile on 28 September 2024. The match kicked off at 2:30pm and delivered a rollercoaster of emotions for the 37 spectators in attendance.
Stogursey First lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, designed to provide a strong defensive base while allowing for attacking flexibility.
Charlie Smith took his position as the goalkeeper, shielded by a back four consisting of Ryan Kercher on the right, Sean Marlow and Michael Watts in central defence, with Matteo Palumbo on the left. The midfield was anchored by Daniel Glover and Damian Brown, who were tasked with controlling the game's tempo, while Harry Hardwell operated as an attacking midfielder. The front three featured Jake Williams on the right, Bradley Walford on the left, and Tyler Reed spear-heading the attack as the main striker.
Substitutes for Stogursey First included Ben Campbell-Wallis and Kev Fitzsimmons, ready to impact the game should the moment arise.
The match began with a swift attack from Wellington AFC A, who struck first in the 3rd minute with a tap-in goal, taking an early lead.
Stogursey First responded with determination, gradually finding their rhythm. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Harry Hardwell unleashed a stunning right-footed shot from outside the box, assisted by a long pass from Jake Williams, drawing the teams level at 1-1.
Stogursey First made a substitution, bringing on Ben Campbell-Wallis to replace the injured Matteo Palumbo, following an awkward fall in the 42nd minute.
Just before half-time, in the 44th minute, Stogursey First took the lead for the first time. A well-coordinated team move culminated in Tyler Reed scoring with his left foot from a cross, delivered by the ever-influential Jake Williams.
The score at half-time stood at 2-1 in favour of Stogursey First.
The second half started with a strong spell of possesion from Stogursey First. However, Wellington AFC A levelled the score again in the 67th minute, against the run of play, with a left-footed goal from inside the box.
Stogursey responded by substituting Bradley Walford for Kev Fitzsimmons just a minute later, at 68 minutes.
Wellington AFC A then capitalised on a defensive mistake by Stogursey First in the 79th minute, scoring once more to take a 3-2 lead.
On the stroke of the 80th minute, Stogursey First re-introduced Walford to the game, replacing Ryan Kercher after a solid performance.
The match seemed to be slipping away from Stogursey, but they rallied back, with Tyler Reed scoring his second goal of the match in the 82nd minute. Assisted by Ben Campbell-Wallis with a clever flick, Reed found the net from close range, bringing the score to 3-3.
In a thrilling finale, Tyler Reed completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute, scoring a left-footed goal from a superb long pass by the talented Jake Williams. This late strike secured a sensational 4-3 victory for Stogursey First, much to the delight of the home fans.
The match was officiated by David Milton, whose performance sparked mixed reactions from the players and fans alike.
Tyler Reed was undoubtedly the standout performer of the match, earning recognition as the player of the match for his brilliant hat-trick that sealed the victory for Stogursey First.
