Witham Friary FC U13 drew their third league game in a row after a 0-0 stalemate with Amesbury Junior Mustangs, on 9th March 2025. The match, part of the league fixtures, kicked off at 2:00pm and saw a modest attendance of 22 spectators.
It was a game Witham could and should have won creating a number of chances in the second half after a relatively quiet first half. A combination of fantastic goalkeeping, the crossbar and one header cleared off the line meant it was another point on the board rather than three.
Witham Friary adopted a 3-5-2 formation, which allowed them to dominate the midfield while maintaining a solid defensive line. Finlay Patrick stood guard in goal, supported by a trio of defenders: Jahmiah Harding on the right, Dylan Turner in the centre, and Matthew Lyons on the left. The midfield was packed with creativity and energy, featuring Dempsey Matthews on the right, Max Norris and Leo Griffin and Cristiano Do Amaral Vanzil centrally with Archie Hansford on the left. Up front, Zak Daniels and Nikolaj Ostergaard were tasked with leading the attack, looking to convert chances into goals.
The gamechangers for Witham Friary included Seth Taylor, Ethan Oatley, Isaac Gainger and Elliott Atwood, who would later play pivotal roles in the match as tactical changes were made.
The first significant event came in the 20th minute when Seth Taylor replaced Dempsey Matthews. Just a minute later, Taylor made an immediate impact with an attempt on goal, but his shot was saved, showcasing the Mustangs' goalkeeper's reflexes.
In the 23rd minute, Ethan Oatley entered the fray, taking the place of Nikolaj Ostergaard. This substitution was followed shortly by Elliott Atwood coming on for Archie Hansford in the 26th minute, as Witham Friary looked to maintain their attacking momentum.
Zak Daniels was particularly active in the first half, making two attempts on goal within a minute. His first effort in the 27th minute was saved, while his second attempt just a minute later went wide of the target, reflecting the pressure Witham Friary was applying on the Mustangs' defence.
As the first half drew to a close, the referee signalled for half-time at the 35-minute mark, with the score still locked at 0-0.
With Witham Friary's set to play uphill in the second half there was nothing to suggest they would dominate the second half as they did. A change in formation led to a switch to four at the back which seemed to make a difference with the midfield starting to create the chances and the full backs and wingers combining well.
Cristiano had the attempt of the second half with an exquisite 25 yarder which the keeper saved onto the bar. Zak also had a couple of chances including a fantastic save from the keeper once again to deny him low at the near post after he did well to beat the defender and a header cleared off the line following a corner. Archie and Seth both also had chances to get that vital winner but it was not to be.
As the final whistle blew, the match ended in a stalemate, but Witham Friary U13's performance was a testament to their potential and determination. The scoreline may not reflect it, but the home side's efforts were commendable, leaving them with plenty to build on for future fixtures starting with another tough test against top of the table Bradford next Sunday. With three clean sheets in five games now they will look to return to winning ways for the first time in the league this year.
