Newcastle Benfield Tardini U10 Sunday hosted Cramlington United Juniors U10 Lions 2 at the Newcastle Benfield Juniors U7 Tardini ground on 21 September 2025, with kick-off at 9:00am. In a 7-a-side league encounter lasting 50 minutes plus injury time, the home side were defeated 6-1 by their visitors. Despite a spirited effort, Newcastle Benfield Tardini were overwhelmed by a clinical Cramlington United Juniors side.
Newcastle Benfield Tardini lined up in a 2-3-1 formation, a setup designed to balance defensive solidity with midfield control and attacking threat. Ollie Lattimer took his place in goal, tasked with organising the backline and keeping the opposition at bay. The central defensive pairing consisted of James Rutherford and Tom Slater, expected to provide a strong shield against the Lions’ attacks. In midfield, Parker Buglass operated on the right, Oliver Moore held the central midfield role, and Elias Rowland covered the left flank, all charged with linking defence and attack while supporting both phases of play. Leading the line was striker Freddie Brydon, whose role was to spearhead the attack and convert chances into goals. The substitutes available were Alfie Cook, Jaxson Medland, and Lewis Coates.
The match began with Cramlington United Juniors taking an early lead in the fourth minute through a close-range fluke goal, setting the tone for a challenging morning for the hosts. Seven minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage with another close-range fluke effort, leaving Newcastle Benfield Tardini chasing the game early on.
However, the home side responded with determination, and in the 17th minute, James Rutherford pulled one back. The goal came from a corner delivered by Freddie Brydon, with Rutherford tapping in from close range, offering a glimmer of hope for the hosts. This goal was a testament to Newcastle Benfield Tardini’s set-piece threat and their ability to capitalise on opportunities.
Just two minutes after this breakthrough, a substitution was made with Alfie Cook replacing the striker Freddie Brydon, signalling a tactical adjustment from the home side. Unfortunately, the visitors restored their two-goal cushion in the 21st minute with another fluke goal, increasing the pressure on Newcastle Benfield Tardini.
Further changes followed as Jaxson Medland came on for Elias Rowland in the 25th minute, shortly before the half-time whistle. Two minutes into the second half, Lewis Coates replaced Oliver Moore, indicating Newcastle Benfield Tardini’s intent to refresh the midfield and regain control.
Despite these efforts, Cramlington United Juniors continued to dominate. In the 34th minute, they scored yet another close-range fluke goal, extending their lead to 4-1. The visitors then added two more fluke goals in the 37th and 44th minutes respectively, sealing a comprehensive 6-1 victory.
Throughout the match, Newcastle Benfield Tardini showed moments of promise, particularly in their set-piece routines and midfield rotations, but were ultimately undone by a clinical and opportunistic Cramlington United Juniors side. The home team will look to regroup and build on the positives from this encounter as they prepare for their next league fixture.
