On 5th October 2025, Crowland Juniors U13s hosted Langtoft Utd U13 at the Snowden Pavilion and Sports Field in a league fixture kicking off promptly at 12:00pm. The home side delivered a commanding performance to secure a 6-1 victory in this 11-a-side contest lasting 70 minutes plus added time, with referee Paul Sellars overseeing proceedings.
Crowland Juniors lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, deploying Tyler Rammell in goal behind a back four consisting of Joshua Thind at right back, Tommy Bradley and Kaiden Tee as central defenders, and Thomas Nairpour on the left. Matheus Simoes was positioned as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of him, the midfield quartet featured Josh Santos on the right wing, Maisie West and George Ireland occupying central attacking midfield roles, and Patrick Ion on the left flank. Leading the line was striker Miguel Pires, expected to spearhead the attack and convert chances. The substitutes available were Preston Bucknell and Lloris Kanyua.
The match began with an early tactical shake-up as Crowland made a double substitution in the 12th minute, bringing on Preston Bucknell for Matheus Simoes and Lloris Kanyua replacing Joshua Thind. This early change suggested a strategic adjustment to maintain intensity and balance across the pitch.
Crowland’s breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Patrick Ion capitalised on a precise assist from central defender Kaiden Tee to open the scoring. The goal was a testament to the defenders’ ability to contribute offensively, with Tee’s delivery setting Ion up to finish confidently.
Shortly after, in the 31st minute, another substitution saw Matheus Simoes return to the field, replacing Josh Santos. This change quickly paid dividends as Simoes scored his first goal just a minute later, assisted by Preston Bucknell, who had come on earlier. The midfielder’s timely arrival and sharp finish doubled Crowland’s advantage.
The first half concluded with a flurry of action as Simoes struck again in the 36th minute, this time assisted by Kaiden Tee, reinforcing the defensive line’s influence on the attacking phase. Crowland Juniors went into the half-time break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second half saw Crowland continue their dominance. In the 50th minute, George Ireland found the net following a well-crafted assist from Josh Santos, extending the lead to 4-0. This goal was quickly followed by a trio of substitutions around the same time: Miguel Pires replaced Tommy Bradley, Patrick Ion came on for Joshua Thind, and the defensive reshuffle continued to maintain fresh legs and tactical fluidity.
Further changes ensued with Tommy Bradley returning to the pitch in place of Thomas Nairpour at the 58th minute mark. Then, at 65 minutes, Joshua Thind and Thomas Nairpour were reintroduced, replacing Preston Bucknell and Lloris Kanyua respectively, signalling a rotation to keep the squad sharp in the closing stages.
Crowland’s relentless pressure was rewarded again in the 66th minute when Miguel Pires scored his first goal of the afternoon, assisted by Kaiden Tee, who continued to impress with his ability to create chances from the back.
Langtoft Utd managed to pull a goal back in the 71st minute, offering a brief glimmer of hope, but Crowland’s superiority was emphatically restored just three minutes later when Miguel Pires netted his second goal, sealing a comprehensive 6-1 victory for the home side.
This match showcased Crowland Juniors’ tactical discipline, fluid attacking play, and effective use of substitutions to maintain momentum. Kaiden Tee’s contributions from defence, Matheus Simoes’ midfield dynamism, and Miguel Pires’ clinical finishing were pivotal in this dominant display. The home side’s 4-1-4-1 formation allowed them to control the midfield and exploit wide areas effectively, leaving Langtoft Utd struggling to contain their opponents’ attacking threats throughout the match.
