In a thrilling encounter at the Delves Lane Community Association Pitch on 23 March 2025, The Turf faced Burnhopefield Hobson Golf Club in their first league match of the season.
The Turf lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Nick Dow took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Andy Gowland on the right, Jamie Tincknell and Damo Freeman in central defence, and Jonny Thirlaway on the left. Captain Lewis Sullivan operated as a central midfielder, tasked with linking play between defence and attack. Ahead of him, Owen Hardy and Lewis Currie occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles, respectively, while Joe Currie played centrally behind the forwards Ian Carrick and Ian Johnstone. The substitutes for the match included James White, Brad Jones, Nathan Sterling, Jack Dawson, and Hubert Szordykowski.
The match began with a few great saves from the Turf Goalkeeper, jumping straight into the game with a couple of high-action blocks. However, an early shock came shortly after for The Turf as Burnhopefield took the lead in the 10th minute. A breakaway on the attack left the defence on the back-foot as the Hobson countered down the left wing, firing the ball across the box to be tapped home for the opening goal of the game, leaving Nick Dow with little chance to respond. However, The Turf quickly rallied and equalised just five minutes later when a free kick on the halfway line was taken by Jonny Thirlaway, lofting the ball straight into the oppositions box as the goalkeeper rushes off his line to clear, only for the ball to sail over everyone and land in the back of the net, restoring the Turf's faith and giving them a much needed boost.
As the first half progressed, both teams exchanged opportunities, but neither could find the decisive touch to take the lead before the half-time whistle blew at 45 minutes.
The second half commenced with Burnhopefield Hobson Golf Club FC regaining their advantage just five minutes in. A corner into the box was met at the back stick by a diving header from close range to restore the Hobson's lead. The Turf attempted to respond, but their efforts were thwarted by a resolute defence.
In the 60th minute, the Hobson were on the attack yet again as the first-half-hero Jonny Thirlaway brought down the attacker in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. A third goal seemed assured for the Hobson, but Nick Dow stood strong and parried the shot back out to into play, retaining his teams hopes of a result.
The Turf FC made a tactical substitution, bringing on James White for Ian Carrick in a bid to inject fresh energy into their attack. However, Burnhopefield Hobson Golf Club FC struck again in the 65th minute, extending their lead and putting The Turf on the back foot.
In a further attempt to change the game's dynamics, The Turf made a triple substitution in the 70th minute. Brad Jones replaced Owen Hardy on the right wing, while Nathan Sterling came on for Andy Gowland at right-back, and Jack Dawson took the place of Ian Johnstone. The changes aimed to bolster their attacking options and regain control of the midfield.
The Turf finally found a breakthrough in the 75th minute after a Lewis Currie through-ball saw Lewis Sullivan bulldoze through the centre of the park, charging straight for the goalkeeper as a helpless defender was effortlessly out-strengthed by the Turf Captain, scoring a brilliant solo goal as he knocked the ball past the goalkeeper, bringing the score to 2-3 and reigniting hopes of a comeback. However, just as The Turf seemed to gain momentum, Burnhopefield struck again in the 85th minute when a shot was parried by Dow onto the crossbar in a fantastic save, only to be headed back into the net by an unmarked attacker at close-range, effectively sealing the match at 2-4.
In the dying moments of the match, The Turf FC was forced to make a final substitution due to injury, with Hubert Szordykowski coming on for Damo Freeman. Despite their best efforts, The Turf could not find a way back into the game, and the referee blew the final whistle, confirming a disappointing defeat for the home side.
Jamie Tincknell was recognised for his standout performance, earning the Man of the Match accolade amidst a challenging outing for The Turf. As the players left the pitch, it was clear that there were plenty of positives to take away from the game, despite not playing at their fullest potential, the Turf have proven that they can score goals, and put in a tremendous effort against their opposition. They will look to regroup and come back stronger in their next game.
