In a gripping encounter at Witham Friary FC U13 on 9th February 2025, Witham Friary U13 faced off against Westbury United Youth & Development FC U, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
The equaliser coming in the 70th minute was well deserved in a game where the hosts dominated the first half and could and should have been ahead at the break. To keep going and get the draw after going down shortly after half time showed the resilience of the team.
Witham Friary adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while also providing width and attacking options. Finlay Patrick stood guard in goal, with a back four comprising Dempsey Matthews on the right, Jahmiah Harding and Dylan Turner in central defence, and Matthew Lyons on the left. The midfield trio featured Max Norris on the right, Cristiano Do Amaral Vanzil centrally, and Leo Griffin on the left, providing both creativity and support to the forwards. Up front, Sullivan Collis and Archie Hansford operated as left and right forwards respectively, with Zak Daniels leading the line as the central striker.
The substitutes for Witham Friary included Seth Taylor, Elliott Atwood, and Ethan Oatley, who would be called upon to make an impact as the match progressed.
The match began with an early chance for Witham Friary as Archie Hansford tested the Westbury goalkeeper with a shot in the fourth minute, but it was saved. Hansford continued to be a threat, forcing another save from the opposition keeper just six minutes later. The pressure mounted when Zak Daniels struck the crossbar in the twelfth minute, a near miss that left the home crowd gasping.
In the fourteenth minute, Witham Friary made their first substitution, bringing on Seth Taylor for Sullivan Collis. Shortly after, Elliott Atwood replaced Matthew Lyons, as the home side sought to maintain their attacking momentum. Dylan Turner then had a chance to score in the sixteenth minute from a free kick, but his effort was also saved, highlighting the visitors' resilience in defence. Special mention to the Westbury goalkeeper who kept his side in it at times.
Seth Taylor had a go at goal in the twenty-first minute, but his shot was saved, while Zak Daniels sent a shot high over the bar just three minutes later. Cristiano Do Amaral Vanzil then missed the target in the twenty-fifth minute, as Witham Friary continued to press for an opening goal. Max Norris also had an attempt saved in the twenty-seventh minute, and Hansford was denied once more in the twenty-ninth minute, as the home side struggled to find the back of the net despite their dominance.
As the first half drew to a close, Witham Friary went into the break without a goal to show for their efforts, but they remained optimistic. The second half began with a substitution as Zak Daniels returned to the pitch, replacing Seth Taylor. However, just two minutes later, Westbury United struck first, scoring in the thirty-seventh minute with a close-range effort from their forward, putting the visitors ahead.
Witham Friary responded by bringing on Sullivan Collis for Leo Griffin. Collis had a chance to equalise in the forty-fourth minute, but his shot went wide. Jahmiah Harding also missed the target in the fifty-second minute, as the home side searched for a way back into the match.
In the fifty-fourth minute, Leo Griffin re-entered the fray, replacing Elliott Atwood, as Witham Friary looked to inject fresh energy into their attack. The home side continued to push forward, and in the sixty-first minute, Seth Taylor returned to the pitch, taking the place of Ethan Oatley.
The breakthrough finally came in the dying moments of the match. In the seventieth minute, Sullivan Collis scored a crucial equaliser, heading home from a corner delivered by Dempsey Matthews. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures, as Witham Friary salvaged a point from a match that had seemed to slip away.
The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought draw, with both teams sharing the spoils in a match that showcased the spirit and determination of youth football. Witham Friary U13 will take heart from their performance, particularly their ability to respond after going behind, as they look ahead to their next challenge in the league.
Both teams will also feel they have something to prove when the two teams face off in the quarter final of the League Cup in a few weeks time.
Another thoroughly enjoyable game to watch though played out in cold conditions.
