In a commanding display, Euxton Villa U16 Black faced off against Horwich RMI U18's at the Jim Fowler Memorial Ground on 27 July 2025, with the match kicking off at 9:30 am. The home side delivered a stunning performance, securing a resounding 7-0 victory in this friendly encounter.
Euxton Villa lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, designed to dominate the midfield while providing a solid defensive base. Adam Tucker took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Colin Plewa on the right, Harley Ashton and Frank Cooper in central defence, and Roman Taylor on the left. The midfield was packed with creativity and energy, featuring Lucas Harvey on the right, Oliver Gardner, Ollie Bamber and Freddie Beanland centrally, and Archie Finch on the left. Up front, Harrison Trial led the line as the lone striker, tasked with converting chances into goals. The substitutes for this match included Luke Whelan and Bailey Trial.
The match began with an early flourish from Euxton Villa, as Archie Finch opened the scoring just four minutes in. Lucas Harvey provided a pinpoint cross that allowed Finch to slot the ball home with his right foot inside the box, setting the tone for the match.
In a tactical reshuffle, both Luke Whelan and Bailey Trial were introduced shortly after the goal, replacing Finch and Gardner respectively in the 11th minute. This change did not disrupt the flow of the game, as Finch's replacement, Whelan, was soon involved in the action.
As the first half progressed, Frank Cooper attempted a shot that sailed high over the bar in the 24th minute, followed by Bailey Trial also missing the target shortly after. Whelan had a chance of his own in the 27th minute, but his effort was saved, showcasing the relentless pressure Euxton Villa was applying.
The second goal came in the 29th minute when Ollie Bamber found the net, converting a header from an Oliver Gardner assist. This goal further demoralised the Horwich RMI side, and shortly after, Harrison Trial replaced Freddie Beanland as Euxton Villa continued to assert their dominance.
The half concluded with a flurry of substitutions, including the introduction of Roman Taylor for Colin Plewa and Freddie Beanland returning for Ollie Bamber, both tactical moves aimed at maintaining momentum.
Just after the break, Archie Finch scored again in the 42nd minute, converting a short pass from Harrison Trial with a composed finish inside the box. The relentless assault continued as Bailey Trial scored twice in quick succession, first in the 55th minute with another assist from Finch, and then again in the 61st minute, this time from Roman Taylor, both goals showcasing the team's clinical finishing.
As the match wore on, an own goal from a Horwich RMI player in the 73rd minute, following a cross from Bamber, added to the scoreline, further emphasising the one-sided nature of the contest.
In the closing stages, Frank Cooper capped off the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the 77th minute, assisted by Bamber, who had been instrumental throughout the match.
The referee, Jordon Hughes, brought the match to a close after a dominant display from Euxton Villa U16 Black, who showcased their attacking prowess and solid teamwork, leaving Horwich RMI U18's with much to ponder after a heavy defeat. Harley Ashton was notably impressive, earning recognition as the Player of the Match for his commanding presence in defence.
