Old Stamfield 2 vs 1 City of Liverpool FC

Old Stamfield welcomed City of Liverpool FC to Banbury on 13 September 2025 for a keenly contested league fixture, kicking off at 5:30pm. In front of a crowd of 15,649, Old Stamfield secured a narrow 2-1 victory in a match that saw early dominance rewarded and a resilient defensive display under pressure. Referee Darren England officiated proceedings with a steady hand throughout the 90 minutes plus added time.

Old Stamfield lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying a balanced blend of defensive solidity and attacking creativity. Alex Dos Santos guarded the goal, supported by a back four consisting of Romeh Serratton at right back, Rory Stride and Eduardo Fuenzalida as central defenders, and Florian Sarosi covering the left flank. The midfield double pivot featured Dominic Wilkinson and Ben Spencer tasked with both shielding the defence and initiating attacks. Ahead of them, the three attacking midfielders were Jamie Johnson on the right, William Wilngrove centrally as the attacking midfielder, and Sam Jones operating on the left. Leading the line was striker Hugo Lamy, expected to convert chances and hold up play. On the bench, Old Stamfield had Alex Gatuso, Sam Miller, Eduardo Camavinga, Fredrik Wirz, and Anders Larsson ready to influence the game as needed.

The match burst into life early on when Old Stamfield took the lead in the 11th minute. Jamie Johnson provided a precise short pass inside the box to William Wilngrove, who expertly finished with his right foot to give the home side an early advantage. This goal set the tone for Old Stamfield’s attacking intent and confidence.

Old Stamfield doubled their lead in the 29th minute through a well-executed header. Sam Jones delivered a quality cross from the left flank, finding Hugo Lamy at close range who powered a header past the City of Liverpool FC goalkeeper. This goal highlighted the effectiveness of Old Stamfield’s wide play and aerial threat.

Just before half time, Old Stamfield were forced into an early substitution due to injury. Rory Stride, one of the central defenders, was replaced by Alex Gatuso in the 43rd minute, a tactical necessity to maintain defensive stability. The first half concluded with Old Stamfield comfortably ahead 2-0.

The second half saw further changes as Old Stamfield sought to maintain their lead. In the 52nd minute, Romeh Serratton was replaced by Sam Miller, signalling a fresh injection of energy at right back. However, City of Liverpool FC responded with a spectacular goal in the 58th minute, scoring directly from a corner kick with a right-footed strike from outside the box. This rare and impressive effort reduced the deficit and reignited the contest.

Old Stamfield’s William Wilngrove was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a moment that underscored the intensity and pressure of the match as City of Liverpool FC pushed for an equaliser.

In the 73rd minute, Old Stamfield made a triple substitution to shore up the midfield and attack. Eduardo Camavinga came on for Sam Jones, Fredrik Wirz replaced Jamie Johnson, and Anders Larsson took over from Hugo Lamy to make his Old Stamfield debut. These tactical changes aimed to preserve the lead and refresh the squad’s dynamics in the closing stages. Old Stamfield had a Camavinga Goal ruled out for a tight offside against Wirz in the 87th minute following a VAR review.

Despite City of Liverpool FC’s efforts, Old Stamfield held firm to secure a 2-1 victory. The disciplined defensive work, combined with early clinical finishing, proved decisive in this tightly fought encounter. The home crowd at Banbury were treated to a display of tactical awareness and resilience as Old Stamfield collected valuable league points.