Hollingworth Jnrs U11 Holl 1 vs 5 Droylsden Pythons U11s

On the morning of 26 September 2026, Droylsden Pythons U11s travelled to the Ten Acres Lane Sports Complex to face Hollingworth Jnrs in a league away fixture. Kick-off was promptly at 8:45am, with a crowd of 50 spectators witnessing a commanding 5-1 triumph for the Pythons in this seven-a-side encounter lasting 60 minutes plus added time.

Droylsden lined up in a 2-3-1 formation, a setup designed to balance defensive solidity with midfield control and attacking potency. Elliott Walshe took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper for the injured Jake Duff. Other absentees were Muwaffaq and Cole Burrows. Tasked with organising the backline and making crucial saves. The central defensive duo consisted of Joshua O’ Reilly and Logan Myerscough, whose primary duties were to thwart opposition attacks and initiate play from the back. In midfield, Max Higham operated centrally, supported by Callum Heaton on the right and Teddy Blunt on the left, all expected to link defence and attack, provide width, and create chances. Leading the line was striker Prince Karim, whose role was to convert opportunities and apply pressure on the opposition defence. Roman Arrandale and Hamza Bance were named as substitutes, ready to impact proceedings as needed.

The match burst into life within the opening minutes as Teddy Blunt fired a stunning direct free-kick with his right foot into the net in the 2nd minute, giving Droylsden an early lead. The Pythons pressed on immediately, with Prince Karim’s shot saved by the Hollingworth goalkeeper just a minute later. Blunt came agonisingly close to doubling the advantage when his attempt struck the crossbar in the 3rd minute. The early intensity was momentarily disrupted when the Hollingworth manager was shown a red card in the 5th minute for dissent, reducing Hollingworth. The manager was clearly not happy with the referees decision to award the Pythons a free kick due to Logan Myrescough being fouled in his own half.

It wasn’t long before it was 2-0. Blunt scored again at close range inside the box in the 7th minute, doubling the Pythons’ lead and demonstrating his clinical finishing. Despite several attempts from Prince Karim and Callum Heaton in the following minutes—Karim shooting wide in the 8th and 20th minutes, and Heaton missing the target in the 9th—Droylsden maintained pressure. Blunt’s persistence continued with a saved effort in the 10th minute and a high shot in the 14th, while Heaton rattled the crossbar in the 15th minute, underscoring the Pythons’ attacking threat.

Elliott Walshe was called into action in the 12th minute, making a sharp dive at the feet to deny a Hollingworth attempt. Nevertheless, the visitors pulled one back in the 13th minute with a well-struck right-footed effort from outside the area, briefly halting Droylsden’s momentum. The Pythons responded with continued attacking forays, though some efforts were blocked or went wide, including Max Higham’s blocked attempt in the 28th minute and further wide shots from Karim.

At the 16th minute mark, tactical substitutions saw Roman Arrandale replace Max Higham and Hamza Bance come on for Logan Myerscough, refreshing the midfield and defensive lines. Further changes followed in the 25th minute with Logan Myerscough returning to the field for Joshua O’ Reilly and Max Higham coming back on for Arrandale, signalling a dynamic approach to maintain energy and control.

As the first half drew to a close, attempts from Karim continued to test the Hollingworth defence, though some were off target. The half concluded with Droylsden firmly in control at 2-1.

The second half began with further substitutions as Roman Arrandale came on for Teddy Blunt in the 33rd minute, and shortly after, Callum Heaton replaced Arrandale while Teddy Blunt returned for Logan Myerscough at the 43rd minute mark. These changes injected fresh impetus into the Pythons’ play.

Prince Karim then showcased his skill with a sublime lobbed half volley goal in the 39th minute, extending the lead to 3-1. He continued to threaten, with a saved shot in the 41st minute and another effort saved by Walshe’s agile dive at the feet in the 42nd minute. Joshua O’ Reilly nearly added to the tally in the 45th minute with a long range effort but was denied by the crossbar.

Despite a high shot from Blunt in the 49th minute, the Pythons’ dominance was clear. Karim struck again in the 52nd minute with a precise right-footed effort from outside the area, making it 4-1. Substitutions continued with Arrandale returning for Hamza Bance and Logan Myerscough replacing Teddy Blunt in the 54th minute, maintaining the team’s balance and stamina.

Walshe remained vigilant, producing another crucial save diving at the feet in the 57th minute. The final goal came in the 59th minute when Roman Arrandale tapped in a close-range finish following a short pass from Karim, sealing a comprehensive 5-1 victory for Droylsden Pythons.

Callum Heaton’s tireless work on the right flank, combined with his creativity and link-up play, earned him the player of the match accolade. Overall, Droylsden’s tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and defensive resilience ensured a commanding performance away from home.