St Helens 0 vs 1 Old Stamfield

Old Stamfield travelled to Leigh Sports Village on 6 September 2025 for an 8:00pm kick-off against St Helens in a crucial league away fixture. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Old Stamfield, secured by a dramatic late goal deep into injury time. Referee Michael Oliver oversaw the 90 minutes plus added time with a solid performance in front of a crowd of 11,230.

Old Stamfield lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, deploying a balanced setup designed to control midfield and provide width in attack. Alex Dos Santos guarded the goal, protected by a back four consisting of Rory Stride at right back, Antoine Todibo and Eduardo Fuenzalida as central defenders, and Romeh Serratton on the left. The double pivot in midfield featured Dominic Wilkinson and Sam Miller, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of them, the attacking trio comprised Sam Jones on the right flank, Fredrik Wirz centrally as the attacking midfielder, and Eduardo Camavinga on the left, all supporting lone striker Hugo Lamy. The substitutes named were Taiwo Ejuke, William Wilngrove, Jamie Johnson, Florian Sarosi, and Archie Newbold.

The match began with both sides probing cautiously, but Old Stamfield’s defensive discipline was tested early. At 22 minutes, Rory Stride received a yellow card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, a booking that highlighted the intensity of the contest and the defensive responsibility placed on the right back. The game remained tight and competitive, with neither side able to break the deadlock before the first half concluded.

In the 35th minute, Old Stamfield were forced into an early change when Antoine Todibo went off injured, replaced by Taiwo Ejuke. This substitution slightly altered the defensive dynamics but the team maintained their shape. The first half ended goalless, with both teams locked in a tactical battle.

The second half saw Old Stamfield make further adjustments. At the 70-minute mark, two substitutions were made simultaneously: William Wilngrove came on for Eduardo Camavinga, and Jamie Johnson replaced Fredrik Wirz. These changes aimed to refresh the attacking options and inject new energy into the midfield and forward lines. However, just six minutes later, Taiwo Ejuke also had to be withdrawn due to injury, with Florian Sarosi coming on to fill the gap.

Sarosi’s introduction was marked by a moment of controversy as he was shown a yellow card in the 82nd minute for denying a goalscoring opportunity, echoing the earlier booking for Stride and underscoring the defensive pressure Old Stamfield were under. The tactical reshuffle continued when Archie Newbold replaced Sam Miller in the 84th minute, a move designed to chase the three points as the match entered its final stages.

Despite the mounting pressure, Old Stamfield held firm and were rewarded in the dying moments of the game. In the 95th minute Old Stamfield were awarded penalty was awarded following a cross from Romeh Serratton, which was handled by St Helens’ Hannabll. Stride calmly converted with his right foot into the top left corner, sending the away fans into raptures and securing a vital three points for Old Stamfield.

Rory Stride’s performance was pivotal throughout the match, combining defensive resilience with a crucial attacking contribution, earning him the player of the match accolade. Old Stamfield’s disciplined 4-2-3-1 formation and tactical flexibility ultimately paid dividends in a tightly contested encounter at Leigh Sports Village.