Durham Athletic Youth U13's hosted Washington United Juniors Yellows at their home ground on 27 September 2025, with kick-off at 9:00am in a league fixture. The 70-minute contest ended in a 2-0 victory for Durham Athletic Youth, who controlled the match and secured all three points.
Durham Athletic Youth lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, deploying Luke Fouracre in goal. The defensive line consisted of Zach White at right back, Brodie Redhead and Farren Davison as central defenders, and Max Mitchell on the left. The midfield four featured Bobby Charlton on the right, Max Maltman and Harrison Tomkins centrally, and Flynn Bestford on the left. Mason Fox operated just behind the lone striker Alfie Crow, who led the attack. This setup was designed to provide defensive solidity with four at the back, midfield width and creativity, and a focal point in attack supported by the attacking midfielder. The substitutes available were Parker Cross, Seth Bywater, Kurtis Jones, and Lewie Corker.
The match began with Durham Athletic asserting early dominance. Within six minutes, Mason Fox provided a precise assist to Alfie Crow, who calmly finished to give the hosts an early lead. This goal set the tone for the remainder of the first half, with Durham Athletic maintaining control and looking to extend their advantage.
At the 20-minute mark, a flurry of substitutions took place. Parker Cross replaced Zach White at right back, while Seth Bywater came on for Flynn Bestford on the left wing. Shortly after, Kurtis Jones was introduced for Max Mitchell at left back, and Lewie Corker replaced the goal scorer Alfie Crow up front. These changes suggested a tactical refresh to maintain energy and defensive stability.
The first half concluded at the 35-minute mark with Durham Athletic holding a 1-0 lead. Immediately after the break, further substitutions saw Zach White return to the right back position, replacing Bobby Charlton, while Flynn Bestford came back on for Harrison Tomkins in central midfield. Mason Fox also re-entered the fray, taking over from Lewie Corker in the attacking midfielder role. These adjustments indicated a desire to regain attacking impetus and control the midfield battle.
As the second half progressed, Bobby Charlton was reintroduced at the expense of Parker Cross in the 54th minute, with Mason Fox swapping places with Lewie Corker. Harrison Tomkins returned to the central midfield role, replacing Max Maltman four minutes later. Parker Cross then came back on for Seth Bywater in the 61st minute, showing a pattern of rotation to keep the squad fresh.
Durham Athletic extended their lead in the 65th minute when Zach White, who had earlier been substituted off, scored to make it 2-0. This goal effectively sealed the contest, as Washington United Juniors struggled to respond.
In the closing stages, Kurtis Jones was replaced by Max Maltman in the 68th minute, rounding off a series of tactical substitutions aimed at preserving the lead and managing player fitness.
Throughout the match, Durham Athletic Youth demonstrated disciplined defending and effective attacking transitions. The early goal from Crow and the late strike from White were decisive moments, while the numerous substitutions reflected a well-managed squad effort. Washington United Juniors were unable to breach the Durham defence, leaving the hosts to celebrate a deserved clean sheet and victory on home soil.
