Billing United U15 faced off against Spratton & Pitsford Pumas U15 Orange in a friendly match at Spratton Recreation Ground on 31 August 2025, with the home side succumbing to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat. The match kicked off at 2:00pm and showcased Billing United's attacking prowess and solid defensive structure.
Billing United adopted a 3-5-2 formation, which allowed them to dominate the midfield while maintaining a solid defensive line. Daniel Juhasz took his place between the posts, supported by a trio of defenders: Ethan Sharp in central defence, flanked by Oscar Rayner on the right and Ethan Hunt on the left. The midfield was packed with creativity, featuring Cody Wood on the right, Damien (Trial) and Leo Rigby centrally, and Eddie Viscu on the left. Up front, Ciaran Standham-Walls and David Ispas were tasked with leading the line, looking to exploit any defensive lapses from their opponents.
The substitutes for Billing United included Malaki Worrell, Zip Scrivener, Joel Poku, Sonny Manikiza, and Harry (Trial), providing depth and tactical flexibility as the match progressed.
The first half saw Billing United immediately assert their dominance, with Ciaran Standham-Walls testing the Pumas' goalkeeper on multiple occasions. His first attempt came in the 15th minute but was saved, followed closely by another effort just a minute later that sailed high over the bar. Standham-Walls continued to apply pressure, sending a shot wide in the 18th minute and forcing another save in the 25th minute.
As the half wore on, Billing United's attacking momentum was momentarily disrupted when David Ispas was penalised for a push in the 29th minute. Standham-Walls was caught offside in the 33rd minute due to a mistimed run, a decision that was rightly called by the assistant referee. However, Ethan Sharp's defensive prowess shone through in the 35th minute when he made a crucial tackle to prevent a potential chance for the Pumas.
The first half concluded with no goals, but Billing United's attacking intent was clear. At the start of the second half, they made a substitution, bringing on Zip Scrivener for David Ispas.
The breakthrough finally came just two minutes into the second half when Zip Scrivener found the back of the net, assisted by Standham-Walls in the 42nd minute. This goal ignited Billing United's confidence, and they continued to press for more.
Standham-Walls was again in the thick of the action, forcing another save from the Pumas' keeper in the 44th minute. The game saw further substitutions as Joel Poku and Sonny Manikiza entered the fray, replacing Zip Scrivener and Cody Wood respectively in the 52nd minute.
Billing United's dominance was further emphasised when Ciaran Standham-Walls scored his first goal of the match in the 63rd minute, with Damien (Trial) providing the assist. Just two minutes later, Standham-Walls struck again, doubling his tally and showcasing his clinical finishing skills, again assisted by Damien.
The scoring was capped off in the 68th minute when Standham-Walls completed his hat-trick, with Zip Scrivener providing the assist. The Pumas struggled to contain the relentless attacking play from Billing United, who continued to threaten the goal.
As the match approached its final stages, Billing United made another substitution, bringing David Ispas back on for Damien (Trial) in the 72nd minute. Despite several attempts from Zip Scrivener, David Ispas, and Joel Poku in the closing minutes, the Pumas' goalkeeper managed to keep the scoreline from escalating further.
The match concluded with Billing United securing a resounding 4-0 victory, a testament to their attacking flair and solid defensive organisation throughout the game. This performance will surely serve as a confidence booster as they look ahead to future challenges.
