In a stunning display of attacking football, Witham Friary U13 triumphed over Wembdon Junior Youth U13 Saints with a resounding 10-0 victory in their cup match at the West Woodlands Showground on 13 October 2024. The match kicked off at 10:30 am, and it quickly became evident that Witham Friary were in formidable form, dominating their opponents throughout the encounter.
Witham Friary lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, which allowed them to utilise width and maintain a strong presence in both defence and attack. Finlay Patrick took his position as goalkeeper, while Dempsey Matthews and Matthew Lyon occupied the right and left defensive roles respectively, with Max Norris and Jahmiah Harding forming a solid central defensive partnership. The midfield trio consisted of Zak Daniels on the right, Leo Griffin in the centre, and Dylan Turner on the left, providing both creativity and support to the forwards. Up front, Seth Taylor, Oscar Contini, and Archie Hansford formed a dynamic attacking trio, tasked with stretching the Wembdon defence and converting chances into goals.
The substitutes for Witham Friary included Ethan Oatley and Isaac Gaiger, who would later play pivotal roles in the match.
The scoring opened early in the fifth minute when Dylan Turner found the back of the net, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Just five minutes later, in the tenth minute, Archie Hansford doubled the lead, assisted by Turner, showcasing the attacking synergy between the two players.
Witham Friary made their first substitution in the 14th minute, bringing on Ethan Oatley for Seth Taylor, a move that would soon pay dividends. Shortly after, in the 19th minute, Isaac Gaiger replaced Matthew Lyon, further freshening up the side.
The goals continued to flow, with Oatley scoring in the 22nd minute, assisted by Zak Daniels, extending the lead to 3-0. Max Norris then got in on the act in the 28th minute, also benefiting from a pass by Daniels, making it 4-0.
As the first half drew to a close, Archie Hansford struck again in the 34th minute, this time assisted by Leo Griffin, bringing the score to 5-0 as the teams headed into the half-time break at 35 minutes.
The second half began with Witham Friary showing no signs of slowing down. Oscar Contini scored in the 41st minute, with Dylan Turner providing the assist, further asserting their dominance. Just moments later, in the 45th minute, Ethan Oatley netted his second goal of the match, assisted by Seth Taylor, pushing the score to 7-0.
The relentless assault continued, with Max Norris scoring again in the 49th minute, this time assisted by Oatley, who was having a standout performance. Dempsey Matthews then joined the scoring spree in the 57th minute, with Jahmiah Harding providing the assist, making it 9-0.
Finally, in the 63rd minute, Oscar Contini capped off the scoring with his second goal of the match, assisted by Dempsey Matthews, bringing the final score to an astonishing 10-0 in favour of Witham Friary U13.
The match was a testament to Witham Friary's attacking prowess and tactical discipline, with standout performances from Oscar Contini and Ethan Oatley, both of whom were named players of the match. The victory not only secures their place in the next round of the cup but also sends a clear message to their future opponents about their capabilities on the pitch.
