North London 0 vs 2 Old Stamfield

Old Stamfield travelled to Southgate to face North London in a league away match on 1 January 2026, kicking off at 5:30pm. The visitors emerged with a 2-0 win, a result that underlined their tactical discipline and attacking efficiency under referee Anthony Taylor’s watchful eye in front of 28,256 spectators.

Deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation, Old Stamfield set up with Alex Dos Santos in goal, protected by a back four of Rory Stride at right back, Taiwo Ejuke and Eduardo Fuenzalida as central defenders, and Florian Sarosi on the left. The midfield double pivot featured Sam Miller and Dominic Wilkinson, tasked with both defensive cover and initiating attacks. Ahead of them, the three attacking midfielders were Romeh Serratton on the right, Fredrik Wirz centrally, and William Wilngrove on the left, all supporting lone striker Hugo Lamy. This setup was designed to balance defensive solidity with creative freedom for the attacking midfielders and the striker to exploit spaces behind North London’s defence. On the bench, Old Stamfield had Sam Jones, Ben Spencer, Alex Gatuso, and Emyll Leclerc ready to influence the game if called upon.

The first half was a cagey affair with both sides probing cautiously. Old Stamfield’s midfield duo worked hard to disrupt North London’s rhythm, but it was not without incident as Sam Miller was shown a yellow card in the 36th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a booking that highlighted the intensity of the contest. Despite this, the half ended goalless with both defences holding firm.

Early in the second half, Old Stamfield were forced into a change when Romeh Serratton limped off injured in the 51st minute, replaced by Sam Jones who immediately added fresh legs to the right attacking midfield position. The visitors gradually grew into the game, their patience rewarded in the 76th minute when Sam Jones provided a neat short pass inside the box to Hugo Lamy, who coolly finished with his right foot to break the deadlock. This goal was a testament to Old Stamfield’s tactical discipline and clinical edge in the final third.

As the match progressed, Old Stamfield made a tactical substitution in the 72nd minute, with Ben Spencer coming on for the booked Sam Miller to shore up the midfield and maintain control. The game remained physical, with Florian Sarosi receiving a yellow card for unsporting behaviour in the 81st minute, reflecting the competitive nature of the encounter.

Old Stamfield doubled their advantage in the 85th minute through a spectacular strike from outside the area by William Wilngrove. The goal was expertly set up by Fredrik Wirz, who delivered a precise short pass allowing Wilngrove to unleash a right-footed shot beyond the reach of the North London goalkeeper. This goal effectively sealed the three points for the visitors.

In the closing stages, Hugo Lamy was cautioned for unsporting behaviour in the 87th minute, showing the fiery determination that had driven his performance throughout the match. Old Stamfield then made two late tactical substitutions in the 88th minute, with Alex Gatuso replacing William Wilngrove and Emyll Leclerc coming on for Rory Stride, as they looked to see out the game with fresh energy.

Rory Stride’s consistent and composed performance at right back earned him the player of the match accolade, his defensive contributions and support in attack proving vital to Old Stamfield’s success. The victory at Southgate was a well-deserved reward for a disciplined and tactically astute display, leaving Old Stamfield in a strong position as the league campaign progresses.