Wellington U13s 1 vs 0 Lads Club Juniors U13

Lads Club Juniors U13 travelled to Wellington on 6 September 2026 for a 12:00pm kick-off in a 9-a-side league fixture that lasted 70 minutes plus injury time. The away side ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Wellington U13s on their home turf.

Deploying a 3-4-1 formation, Lads Club Juniors lined up with Lucas Price in goal, protected by a back three of Louis Howells at right defender, Archie Rigby centrally, and Charlie Arnold on the left. The midfield quartet consisted of Thomi Scoular on the right, Will Horley and Zayn Prosser occupying the central midfield roles, and Finn Jones on the left flank. Leading the line was striker Oscar Jones, supported just behind by the midfielders. This setup demanded defensive solidity from the back three, width and creativity from the midfielders, and clinical finishing from the lone striker. The substitutes available were Riley Smith, Chase Bracegirdle, Rupert Bruton, Charlie Clueit, and Flyn Watkins.

The match began with early defensive interventions from Lads Club Juniors. Charlie Arnold made a crucial tackle in the third minute to halt an attacking move, quickly followed by Archie Rigby’s headed clearance a minute later. Lucas Price was called into action almost immediately, producing a full-stretch save in the fourth minute to keep the scoreline level. Unfortunately, just three minutes later, an injury forced an early substitution with Riley Smith replacing Will Horley in midfield.

Lads Club Juniors showed attacking intent soon after, with Thomi Scoular delivering a long key pass in the ninth minute that created a promising chance. Defensively, Finn Jones and Louis Howells combined well to repel threats in the eleventh minute, with Finn winning a header and Louis blocking an effort. The first wave of substitutions began shortly after, with Chase Bracegirdle coming on for Thomi Scoular in the thirteenth minute, and a triple change at the fifteenth minute saw Rupert Bruton replace Oscar Jones, Charlie Clueit take over from Charlie Arnold at left defender, and Flyn Watkins come on for Finn Jones on the left midfield.

Charlie Clueit continued the defensive work with a headed clearance in the eighteenth minute, while Louis Howells cleared danger in the twenty-third minute. The tactical reshuffle continued as Thomi Scoular returned to the pitch in the twenty-fifth minute, replacing Chase Bracegirdle. Rupert Bruton then showcased his creativity with a through ball in the twenty-seventh minute, although his subsequent attempt soared high over the bar two minutes later.

The first half concluded goalless at the 35-minute mark, but the second half saw further changes. Will Horley came back on for Thomi Scoular, Finn Jones replaced Zayn Prosser, and Charlie Arnold returned for Charlie Clueit, all within the first minute after the break. Louis Howells was particularly busy early on, making two tackles in quick succession at the thirty-seventh minute, followed by a headed clearance from Rupert Bruton a minute later.

Injury struck again in the forty-second minute as Will Horley was forced off again, with Oscar coming on in his place. Rupert Bruton’s attempt in the forty-third minute drifted wide, and Flyn Watkins was substituted for Thomi Scoular shortly after.

The breakthrough came in the forty-fifth minute, when Wellington scored from inside the box with a left-footed slice that went in off the post, leaving Lads Club Juniors trailing as the teams headed into the break.

The second half substitutions continued with Zayn Prosser replacing Riley Smith in the forty-seventh minute, and Chase Bracegirdle returning for Oscar Jones in the fifty-second minute. Charlie Clueit also came back on for Charlie Arnold at the fifty-fifth minute.

Defensively, Archie Rigby made a vital clearance in the sixty-first minute and then tested the opposition goalkeeper with a header from a precise corner that was saved a minute later. Chase Bracegirdle was replaced by Oscar Jones in the sixty-third minute, marking the final substitution of the match.

Despite numerous defensive efforts and tactical changes, Lads Club Juniors were unable to find an equaliser. Louis Howells stood out throughout the contest, constantly guiding the team and his defensive contributions including crucial tackles, blocks, and clearances earning him the player of the match accolade.

Ultimately, Wellington U13s secured a narrow 1-0 victory at home, leaving Lads Club Juniors to reflect on a hard-fought encounter where defensive resilience was evident but the elusive goal proved beyond reach.