Droylsden Pythons U11s 6 vs 3 Reddish North End

A new season in EMJFL Division 2 was underway as newly promoted Droylsden Pythons welcomed Reddish North End Reds to Belle Vue Sport Centre on the morning of 12 September 2026 for a lively 7-a-side league neutral match. Kick-off was promptly at 9:00am, with the Pythons emerging victorious by a 6-3 margin after a pulsating 60 minutes of football. The encounter was marked by a flurry of goals and tactical substitutions that kept the contest fiercely competitive throughout.

Droylsden Pythons lined up in a 2-3-1 formation, a setup designed to balance defensive solidity with midfield creativity and attacking potency. Due to the recent injury to goalkeeper Jake Duff, Elliott Walshe stepped in and took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, tasked with organising the backline and making crucial saves. The central defensive duo comprised Joshua O’ Reilly and Max Higham, whose primary responsibility was to thwart Reddish North End’s forward forays. Ahead of them, the midfield trio featured Callum Heaton on the right, Cole Burrows centrally, and Muwaffaq Sanusi on the left, each expected to link defence and attack while providing width and control in the middle of the park. Leading the line was striker Prince Karim, the focal point of the Pythons’ offensive efforts. On the bench, the substitutes named were Logan Myerscough, Teddy Blunt, Hamza Bance, and Roman Arrandale ready to inject fresh legs and influence the game as required.

The match burst into life early on with Prince Karim opening the scoring in the 4th minute, expertly finishing a chance created by Callum Heaton’s incisive right-sided delivery. This early goal set the tone for the Pythons, who looked to assert their dominance from the outset. However, the visitors responded swiftly; just a minute after a triple substitution at the 15-minute mark—bringing on Teddy Blunt, Hamza Bance, and Logan Myerscough for Cole Burrows, Max Higham, and Joshua O’ Reilly respectively—Reddish North End capitalised on a close-range tap-in with their right foot to level the score.

The game’s intensity did not wane as Reddish North End struck again in the 23rd minute, a corner that was played short and failed to be closed down, resulted in with a powerful right-footed effort from outside the box, leaving Walshe with little chance and putting the visitors ahead. Droylsden Pythons made further tactical changes shortly after, with Roman Arrandale replacing Callum Heaton in the 22nd minute, before a swift reversal of substitutions at the half-hour mark saw the original defensive and midfield personnel return to the pitch, signalling a tactical reshuffle by the Pythons’ coaching staff, Carl Walshe and Dean Heaton

As the second half commenced, Droylsden Pythons quickly regained control. Teddy Blunt, introduced earlier, provided a short pass assist to Cole Burrows who clinically finished inside the box in the 31st minute to equalise. Burrows then doubled his tally with a stunning long-range strike off the underside of the crossbar with his right foot four minutes later, set up neatly by Prince Karim’s short pass. Karim himself found the net again in the 42nd minute, tapping in from close range following a neat short pass from Burrows, demonstrating the lethal understanding between the two pythons players.

Further substitutions saw Roman Arrandale return to the field for Callum Heaton at the 45th minute, and the Pythons’ attacking momentum continued. In the 49th minute, Teddy Blunt scored a well-worked team goal, finishing with his right foot dink after a precise long pass from Callum Heaton. Shortly after, in the 50th minute, Muwaffaq Sanusi replaced Prince Karim, allowing fresh energy to bolster the midfield.

Reddish North End were not finished, The Droylsden defence were far too high which resulted in the opponents pulling a goal back in the 51st minute with a close-range tap-in using their left foot, keeping the contest alive. Yet, the Pythons’ resolve was unshaken as Teddy Blunt sealed the victory with a solo goal in the 55th minute, showcasing individual skill and composure to round off a memorable performance.

Cole Burrows and Teddy Blunt were standout performers, both earning player of the match honours for their pivotal roles in midfield creativity and goal-scoring exploits. The Pythons’ tactical flexibility, combined with clinical finishing and resilient defending, ensured they secured a hard-fought 6-3 triumph over a spirited Reddish North End side in this entertaining 7-a-side league fixture. A superb start for the Pythons.