In a thrilling league encounter at North Weald on 6th September 2025, Rapids North 15B White 1 faced off against Kick2Build Boys 2025 Akoma. The match kicked off at 9:00 am and ended with a narrow defeat for the Rapids, who succumbed to a final score of 2-3.
The Rapids lined up in a 3-2-3 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Jacob Bowers took his place in goal, shielded by a back three comprising Bodhi Rohrbacher on the right, Harrison Dommer in the centre, and Cooper Mellette on the left. The midfield was anchored by Lincoln Vidal and Tygve Blomgren, who were tasked with both breaking up opposition play and supporting the forwards. Up front, Alex Koster and Elliott Atta operated as right and left forwards respectively, with Avery Melendez leading the line as the striker. The substitutes for the match included Elliott English, Arlan Sjulstad, Kamren Carbone, and Isaac Romero.
The match began with an immediate flurry of activity, as Elliott Atta made a key pass just a minute in, showcasing the Rapids' intent. Bodhi Rohrbacher quickly followed up with a defensive effort, ensuring the opposition could not capitalise on any early momentum. In the third minute, Harrison Dommer made a key pass, further demonstrating the Rapids' attacking ambitions, while Avery Melendez contributed defensively to maintain the balance.
Avery Melendez was again in the thick of the action, making a key pass in the fourth minute before Elliott Atta attempted a shot shortly after. The Rapids were pressing hard, and Bodhi Rohrbacher continued to show his defensive prowess with another solid intervention in the fifth minute. Jacob Bowers, in goal, was called into action shortly thereafter, making a crucial save to keep the score level.
Elliott Atta was proving to be a constant threat, making yet another key pass in the fifth minute, followed by Tygve Blomgren's key pass in the sixth minute. The Rapids were building momentum, with Atta again involved in the seventh minute, creating opportunities for his teammates. However, it was the opposition who struck first, scoring a goal in the ninth minute to take the lead.
In response to the early setback, the Rapids made a substitution, bringing on Elliott English for Bodhi Rohrbacher. This was quickly followed by another change, with Arlan Sjulstad replacing Lincoln Vidal in the tenth minute. The Rapids continued to push forward, with Avery Melendez making a key pass in the thirteenth minute, setting the stage for Cooper Mellette to score in the fourteenth minute, assisted by Tygve Blomgren, bringing the score to 1-1.
The Rapids were not done yet, as they continued to apply pressure. Tygve Blomgren made a key pass in the fifteenth minute, while Avery Melendez and Harrison Dommer contributed defensively to maintain the balance. The match saw a flurry of substitutions, with Kamren Carbone entering the fray for Avery Melendez in the seventeenth minute, and Tygve Blomgren making his way back onto the pitch shortly after.
As the first half drew to a close, the Rapids were looking to build on their equaliser. However, the opposition struck again, scoring in the thirty-eighth minute to regain the lead. Just before half-time, Isaac Romero, who had come on for Jacob Bowers, made a crucial save to keep the game within reach.
The second half began with the Rapids looking to equalise once more. Tygve Blomgren was instrumental, making key passes early on, but the opposition scored again in the forty-fifth minute, extending their lead to 3-1. The Rapids were determined to fight back, and they did so with a goal from Isaac Romero in the thirty-ninth minute, narrowing the deficit to 2-3.
Despite their best efforts, including attempts from Alex Koster and Bodhi Rohrbacher, the Rapids could not find the equaliser. The match concluded with the Rapids showing resilience and determination, but ultimately falling short against a well-organised Kick2Build Boys 2025 Akoma side. The final whistle blew, confirming a hard-fought 3-2 victory for the visitors, leaving the Rapids to reflect on missed opportunities and a spirited performance.
