Trowbridge Town U14s faced off against Wims 11 U14 Foothills in a tense league encounter at Mannington Rec on 9 March 2025, kicking off at 12:45pm. The match concluded with Trowbridge emerging victorious with a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to a well-timed strike from Ollie Curtis.
Trowbridge Town adopted a 3-1-4-2 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their attacking players. Henri Turner was stationed in goal, with a back three comprising Ollie Curtis on the right, Jake Wells in the centre, and Leo Shepherd on the left. Dan Jackman played as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack, while Austin Cooper, Ruben Reeves, Alfie Nyarko, and Leon Jones operated as attacking midfielders, providing width and creativity. Up front, Roy Mufalo and Roman Snow formed a dynamic forward partnership, looking to exploit any defensive lapses from their opponents.
The substitutes for Trowbridge included Cole Pender and Josh Bailey, who would be called upon later in the match as the game unfolded.
The match began with Trowbridge applying early pressure, and Dan Jackman was quick to test the Wims 11 goalkeeper with a shot in the sixth minute, but it was saved comfortably. Just four minutes later, Austin Cooper also had a go, but his effort was thwarted, signalling Trowbridge's intent to dominate the early exchanges.
In the 13th minute, Trowbridge was forced into an early substitution due to an injury to Alfie Nyarko, with Cole Pender stepping onto the pitch. The disruption did not deter Trowbridge, as they continued to create chances. Roy Mufalo had a shot go wide in the 14th minute, and Roman Snow followed suit with a high attempt shortly after.
As the first half progressed, Dan Jackman again came close in the 23rd minute, but his shot went wide of the target. However, Trowbridge's persistence paid off in the 24th minute when Ollie Curtis found the back of the net with a stunning strike from outside the area, assisted by Roy Mufalo. This goal gave Trowbridge a crucial lead, which they aimed to protect.
The 27th minute saw another substitution for Trowbridge, with Alfie Nyarko returning to the pitch in place of Leon Jones. Trowbridge continued to press for more goals, but Cole Pender's shot in the 30th minute went wide, and Mufalo's effort was saved in the 32nd minute. Ruben Reeves also had a chance but failed to hit the target, leaving the score at 1-0 as the teams headed into half-time.
After the break, Trowbridge made another change, bringing Leon Jones back on for Ruben Reeves in the 42nd minute. The second half saw Henri Turner in goal making a crucial dive at the feet of a Wims 11 attacker, showcasing his reflexes and determination to keep a clean sheet. He followed this up with a full-stretch save in the 63rd minute, further solidifying his role as a key player in the match.
As the game approached its final stages, Trowbridge made their last substitution in the 71st minute, with Josh Bailey replacing Ruben Reeves. The team remained resolute, but Wims 11 continued to press for an equaliser. Roman Snow had a penalty saved in the 75th minute, while Ollie Curtis struck the post with another attempt shortly after. Jake Wells also tested the Wims 11 goalkeeper, but his shot was saved, leaving the score unchanged.
Ultimately, Trowbridge Town U14s held on to their slender lead, securing a hard-fought victory against Wims 11 U14 Foothills. The match showcased Trowbridge's defensive resilience and attacking flair, with Ollie Curtis's goal proving decisive in this closely contested encounter.
