On 14 September 2025, Lads Club Juniors U12 hosted Bartestree U12 in a 9-a-side league match at their home ground, kicking off promptly at 10:30am. The encounter ended in a 1-1 draw after a competitive 60 minutes of football, much to the delight of the 38 spectators in attendance.
Lads Club Juniors lined up in a 3-4-1 formation, deploying three defenders at the back with Archie Rigby on the right, Louis Howells centrally, and Charlie Clueit on the left. The midfield quartet consisted of Thomi Scoular on the right wing, Zayn Prosser and Charlie Swain occupying the central midfield roles, and Finn Jones on the left. Oscar Jones led the line as the lone striker, positioned just ahead of the midfield. This setup was designed to provide defensive solidity through the back three, while the midfield four aimed to control possession and supply the striker with chances. Lucas Price guarded the goal. The substitutes available were Charlie Arnold, Musa Touray, and Chase Bracegirdle.
The match began with early action in goal as Lucas Price made a sharp dive at the feet of an opponent in the second minute, setting the tone for a lively contest. Just a minute later, right midfielder Thomi Scoular demonstrated his defensive awareness by intercepting a pass, helping to stem Bartestree’s early pressure.
However, Bartestree broke the deadlock in the sixth minute with a close-range finish inside the box, their striker calmly slotting home with his right foot after Lucas Price had made a point-blank reaction save.
Lads Club’s first attempt on goal came from Oscar Jones in the eighth minute, but his effort went wide. Oscar Jones was involved again shortly after, committing a foul in the eleventh minute with both hands on the defenders back, which momentarily disrupted the flow for the Juniors. Defensively, Louis Howells was a constant presence, winning a crucial header in the twelfth minute and later executing a vital tackle in the nineteenth minute to thwart Bartestree’s advances.
Archie Rigby also played a key role at the back, clearing a dangerous ball in the sixteenth minute to prevent a clear chance and testing the opposition goalkeeper with a shot saved in the eighteenth minute from a free kick. The defensive resilience of the back three was evident throughout the first half, with Louis Howells making multiple tackles and clearances, including two tackles in quick succession in the twenty-sixth minute and a clearance in the thirty-sixth.
The first substitutions came just before the midway point of the match. Charlie Arnold replaced left defender Charlie Clueit, Musa Touray came on for left midfielder Finn Jones, and Chase Bracegirdle took over from right midfielder Thomi Scoular. These changes aimed to refresh the midfield and defensive lines. Shortly after, Zayn Prosser attempted a shot that went wide in the twenty-first minute, while Charlie Swain’s effort was saved in the twenty-eighth minute.
The half concluded with Archie Rigby intercepting a pass at the thirty-minute mark, helping to maintain the Juniors’ defensive shape. The referee, who performed admirably throughout, brought the first half to a close with the scoreline still 1-0 in favour of Bartestree.
The second half saw Thomi Scoular return to the pitch, replacing striker Oscar Jones signalling a tactical shift to bolster the strikeforce. Musa Touray’s defensive contribution was notable with an interception in the thirty-third minute, while Louis Howells continued his commanding presence with a crucial slide tackle that prevented a scoring opportunity in the thirty-fourth minute.
Charlie Swain was booked for kicking the ball away after a foul in the thirty-fifth minute, reflecting the intensity of the contest. The defensive efforts of Archie Rigby and Louis Howells remained pivotal, with Rigby making a strong tackle in the thirty-ninth minute and Howells intercepting a pass in the forty-first. Chase Bracegirdle also contributed defensively with a tackle in the forty-second minute before being substituted off for Oscar Jones, who returned to the field along with Finn Jones, who replaced Musa Touray.
Louis Howells maintained his defensive dominance with another slide tackle in the forty-seventh minute. Shortly after, Charlie Clueit came back on for Charlie Arnold, restoring the original left-back position. Lucas Price was called into action again with a confident punch on the edge of his box in the fiftieth minute to clear danger.
The physicality of the match continued with a push foul by Thomi Scoular in the fifty-third minute, followed by another sharp save from Price diving at the feet of an opponent. Charlie Swain committed a trip foul in the fifty-sixth minute, further illustrating the competitive nature of the game.
The breakthrough for Lads Club Juniors came in the sixty-fourth minute when Thomi Scoular scored from close range with his right foot, capitalising on a free-kick delivery from Zayn Prosser that the goal keeper fumbled. This goal levelled the match and sparked renewed energy in the home side.
Zayn Prosser nearly added to the tally with a high shot in the sixty-fifth minute, but the ball sailed over the bar.
Despite further efforts from both sides, neither team could find a winner, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Louis Howells was jointly named player of the match for his commanding defensive displays and tireless work throughout the game, proving instrumental in keeping Bartestree’s attacks at bay, along with Zayn Prosser who commanded the centre of the park and set up the goal.
Overall, Lads Club Juniors U12 showed resilience and determination in a tightly contested league fixture, earning a valuable point against a strong Bartestree side. The tactical flexibility and defensive solidity displayed will serve them well in the matches ahead.
