The friendly fixture at Stanley Park on 20 July 2025 saw Euxton Villa U16 Black face off against Blackpool FC Community Trust U16, culminating in a dramatic 4-4 draw. The match kicked off at 11:00 am, with both teams showcasing their attacking prowess and resilience throughout the contest.
Euxton Villa adopted a 3-5-2 formation, which positioned Adam Tucker in goal, while a trio of defenders—Alex Howarth, Harley Ashton, and Louis Grant—formed the backline. The midfield was packed with five players, including Lucas Harvey and Roman Taylor on the right and left flanks respectively, while Oliver Gardner, Ethan Bingham, and Ollie Bamber operated centrally. Up front, Samir Freddy and Atawullah Ehsani were tasked with leading the line as forwards. The formation aimed to provide a solid defensive structure while allowing for fluid attacking transitions.
The substitutes for Euxton Villa included Junior Cummins, who would later be introduced to the fray as tactical adjustments were made.
The match began with a flurry of activity as Blackpool FC struck early, netting their first goal just four minutes in with a close-range tap-in. They quickly doubled their lead in the 13th minute, converting from inside the box with a well-placed shot. The home team continued to dominate, capitalising on a defensive error to score their third goal in the 19th minute, leaving Euxton Villa trailing 3-0.
In a bid to regain control, Euxton Villa made a tactical substitution in the 22nd minute, bringing on Junior Cummins for Lucas Harvey. Shortly after, Ethan Bingham had a chance to pull one back but saw his effort saved. Ollie Bamber then attempted to find the target but shot high, while Atawullah Ehsani's effort was also thwarted by the Blackpool goalkeeper.
As the half progressed, Bingham again went close but was unable to convert, sending another attempt over the bar. Junior Cummins had a chance in the 38th minute but missed the target entirely, and the first half concluded with Blackpool leading 3-0.
The second half saw a renewed determination from Euxton Villa. Just after the break, they made another substitution, introducing Lucas Harvey back into the game for Roman Taylor. Ehsani continued to threaten but was denied again in the 41st minute, as was Ollie Bamber shortly thereafter.
In the 44th minute, Blackpool FC scored their fourth goal through a well-executed team move, pushing the score to 4-0. However, Euxton Villa's response was immediate. In the 55th minute, Samir Freddy found the net with a stunning strike from outside the box, assisted by Lucas Harvey, igniting hope for the home side.
Ollie Bamber continued to press, but his shot was saved in the 57th minute. Roman Taylor also had a chance in the 58th minute, but his effort was again kept out by the Blackpool goalkeeper. Euxton Villa made another tactical change in the 60th minute, bringing Oliver Gardner back on for Atawullah Ehsani.
As the match entered its final stages, Roman Taylor had another opportunity saved, but the breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Ollie Bamber scored with a header, assisted by a long pass from Adam Tucker. This goal brought the score to 4-2, and moments later, Ehsani returned to the pitch, replacing Freddy.
With time running out, Adam Tucker made two remarkable point-blank saves in the 79th minute, keeping his side in contention. The pressure mounted as Ollie Bamber scored again in the 80th minute, converting from close range after receiving a short pass from Harley Ashton, narrowing the deficit to 4-3.
Despite a late attempt from Harley Ashton being saved and Oliver Gardner shooting wide, the drama continued. In the 84th minute, Ethan Bingham completed the comeback, scoring from outside the box with a well-placed shot, assisted by Roman Taylor, bringing the match to a thrilling 4-4 conclusion.
This friendly encounter showcased the fighting spirit of Euxton Villa U16 Black, who, despite a rocky start, demonstrated resilience and attacking flair to secure a dramatic draw against their opponents.
