Droylsden Pythons U11s 1 vs 8 Reddish Vulcans Junior U11

Due to the EMJFL postponing the league game due to a venue issue, Droylsden Pythons hosted Reddish Vulcans Mavericks in a 7-a-side friendly at Droylsden Juniors on Saturday 19 September 2026, kicking off promptly at 12:30pm. The home side suffered a heavy 1-8 defeat in front of a crowd of 50 spectators, as the Vulcans dominated proceedings throughout the 60-minute encounter.

Wearing the new green kit for the first time, Droylsden Pythons lined up in a 2-3-1 formation, again deploying Elliott Walshe in goal due to the injury to Jake Duff. Other absentees were versatile defender Max Higham and playmaker Teddy Blunt. The defensive duo consisted of Joshua O’ Reilly and Logan Myerscough as central defenders, tasked with protecting the backline. Ahead of them, the midfield trio featured Muwaffaq Sanusi on the left, Cole Burrows centrally, and Callum Heaton on the right, expected to provide width and link play. Leading the attack was striker Prince Karim, charged with spearheading the offensive efforts. On the bench were Hamza Bance and Roman Arrandale, ready to be called upon as substitutes during the match.

The game began with an early incident in the fourth minute when Callum Heaton was fouled inside the box resulting in a Pythons penalty. Prince Karim stepped up to take the spot-kick but fired wide, missing a crucial chance to put the Pythons ahead. However, the visitors capitalised swiftly, scoring just two minutes later with a right-footed strike that put the Vulcans 1-0 up.

Shortly after, at the seventh minute, Droylsden made their first substitution as Hamza Bance replaced Muwaffaq Sanusi on the left midfield, signalling an early tactical adjustment. Despite this, the Pythons found some joy when Prince Karim produced a fine solo goal in the eighth minute to level the scores at 1-1, showcasing his individual skill and determination.

Joshua O’ Reilly attempted to respond with a shot wide of the target in the twelfth minute, but the visitors regained control soon after. At the same time, Logan Myerscough was substituted off for Roman Arrandale, indicating a reshuffle in defence. The Vulcans then struck again in the 15th minute with a well-worked team move finished neatly with a left-footed effort, restoring their lead.

The visitors continued to press and extended their advantage in the 21st minute with a composed finish inside the box using their right foot. Around this time, further substitutions were made: Cole Burrows came on for Muwaffaq Sanusi, and Roman Arrandale replaced Logan Myerscough once more, suggesting some confusion or repeated changes in the defensive line.

As the first half drew to a close, the Pythons faced a tough challenge. Elliott Walshe was called into action multiple times, making a full-stretch save in the 32nd minute and tipping a shot over the bar four minutes later, keeping his side in the contest despite the mounting pressure. Prince Karim committed a late tackle in the 32nd minute and had a high attempt on goal at 35 minutes.

The visitors capitalised on a close-range tap-in in the 36th minute, extending their lead to 4-1. Walshe continued to impress with another full-stretch save at the 41st minute mark. At 42 minutes, the Pythons made two substitutions: Callum Heaton returned to the field replacing Muwaffaq Sanusi, and Joshua O’ Reilly came on for Roman Arrandale, aiming to stabilise the defence.

Walshe’s heroics persisted with a full-stretch save in the 43rd minute, but the Vulcans were relentless. They added a fifth goal in the 49th minute through another slick team move finished with a left-footed strike. At the same time, Prince Karim was substituted back on for Callum Heaton, and Joshua O’ Reilly replaced Logan Myerscough once again, highlighting ongoing adjustments in the backline.

Roman Arrandale had a wide attempt on goal in the 50th minute, but the visitors scored again in the 51st minute from close range with a left-footed finish. Defensive errors proved costly as the Vulcans netted two further goals in the closing stages, one at 55 minutes and another at 57 minutes, both capitalising on mistakes and finishing with left and right feet respectively.

Despite the heavy scoreline, Elliott Walshe’s performance in goal stood out as a bright spot for Droylsden Pythons, making several crucial saves and keeping the scoreline from being even more one-sided. Prince Karim’s early goal and efforts were notable, but the visitors’ clinical finishing and cohesive team play ultimately decided the contest.

In summary, Reddish Vulcans Mavericks delivered a commanding display at Droylsden Juniors, leaving the home side to reflect on a tough afternoon. The Pythons will look to regroup and build on the positives, particularly from their goalkeeper’s resilience, ahead of their next fixture. Missing 3 key players didn’t help the scoreline. Should the pythons have had both Max Higham and Teddy Blunt in the team, maybe the scoreline had been different .