On 7 September 2025, Bowers & Pitsea U15 Whites hosted Trinity Y U15 Blue at Eversley Leisure Centre in a friendly 11-a-side fixture kicking off at 1:45pm. The match ended 3-1 in favour of the visitors after an 80-minute contest, with Bowers & Pitsea unable to capitalise on an early lead.
Bowers & Pitsea deployed a 3-5-2 formation, featuring a back three composed of Riley Knight at right defender, Marcus Stanbury centrally, and Sebastian Cenciu on the left. Their midfield five included Benjamine Smith on the right wing, Cory Jennings, Oliver Norton, and Liam Stroud occupying the central midfield roles, with Luca Cepoi providing width on the left. Upfront, Mattie Bristow operated as the right forward alongside Oliver Wakeling on the left. Stanley Martin-Gardener guarded the goal. The substitutes named were Lewis Baber, Rhys Hughes, and James Holgate.
The Whites began brightly, and it was Mattie Bristow who delivered an early cross that led to an unfortunate own goal by a Trinity Y defender in the 9th minute, giving Bowers & Pitsea a dream start. This fluke opener sparked hope among the home supporters, with 50 in attendance, that the Whites could build on their advantage.
However, tactical changes soon followed. At the 20-minute mark, Oliver Wakeling was replaced by Lewis Baber in a move designed to alter the attacking dynamic. As the half progressed, further substitutions were made just before the break: Rhys Hughes came on for Riley Knight and James Holgate replaced Liam Stroud, both tactical decisions aimed at shoring up the defence and midfield.
Despite these adjustments, the visitors found their rhythm early in the second half. In the 51st minute, a defensive mistake from Bowers & Pitsea allowed Trinity Y to level the scores. The visitors capitalised on a lapse in concentration, demonstrating clinical finishing to make it 1-1.
Shortly after, in the 53rd minute, Bowers & Pitsea responded with a tactical substitution, bringing Liam Stroud back on for Cory Jennings to inject fresh energy into midfield. Seven minutes later, Oliver Norton was replaced by Riley Knight, signalling a reshuffle in the central areas as the Whites sought to regain control.
Unfortunately for the home side, another defensive error in the 62nd minute gifted Trinity Y a second goal, putting them ahead 2-1. The pressure mounted, but Stanley Martin-Gardener showed his quality with a crucial penalty save at 65 minutes, denying the visitors a chance to extend their lead further.
Immediately following the penalty save, Bowers & Pitsea made another tactical substitution, reintroducing Oliver Wakeling for Luca Cepoi on the left wing. Despite this, Trinity Y struck again just two minutes later to make it 3-1, effectively sealing the game.
In the final stages, James Holgate was replaced by Oliver Norton at the 72nd minute as the Whites attempted to find a way back into the match. However, the visitors maintained their advantage until the final whistle.
Mattie Bristow and Benjamine Smith stood out for Bowers & Pitsea, with Bristow’s early assist and persistent threat upfront, and Smith’s industrious work on the right midfield earning them player of the match honours. Despite their efforts, the Whites were undone by defensive lapses and could not prevent Trinity Y from securing a deserved victory on the day.
