On 20 September 2025, S J B Juniors U16 Girls welcomed Stratford Town Womens & Girls U15 Orange to their home ground for a league fixture kicking off at midday. The match ended in a resounding 8-0 victory for the hosts after a commanding display over the full 80 minutes plus injury time.
S J B Juniors lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking fluidity. Grace took her place in goal, protected by a back four consisting of Tianna at right back, Sophia and Ella as central defenders, and Kelsey on the left. The midfield was anchored by Isha and Sophie centrally, flanked by Eva on the right and Beth on the left, with Freya playing just behind the lone striker Zara. This setup expected the wide midfielders to provide width and service, the central midfielders to control the tempo, and Freya to link midfield and attack, supporting Zara in spearheading the offensive threat. The substitutes available were Jaden, Belle, and Liv.
The game burst into life almost immediately as Eva opened the scoring in the third minute, capitalising on a precise assist from Freya. Just four minutes later, Eva doubled her tally with a composed finish, signalling the Juniors’ intent early on. The visitors struggled to cope with the relentless pressure as Zara found the net in the 12th minute, again set up expertly by Freya’s creative play.
Eva was unstoppable in the opening exchanges, grabbing her third goal in the 15th minute, once more assisted by Freya, who was proving to be the creative heartbeat of the team. Shortly after this, the first substitution saw Jaden replace Sophie in midfield at the 16th minute mark, perhaps to inject fresh legs and maintain the tempo. The scoring continued unabated as Freya herself got on the scoresheet in the 18th minute, with Eva returning the favour by providing the assist.
By the 24th minute, Eva completed her hat-trick, again assisted by Freya, who was involved in almost every goal in the first half. The Juniors’ dominance was further emphasised when Zara scored her second goal in the 28th minute, this time assisted by Eva, showcasing the excellent interplay between the front players. The first injury substitution came in the 34th minute when Beth replaced Eva, who had to leave the pitch due to injury.
The first half concluded with S J B Juniors firmly in control at 7-0, a scoreline that reflected their attacking prowess and defensive discipline. At half time, the team made two changes immediately after the break, with Kelsey coming back on for Isha and Sophie returning in place of Ella, signalling a tactical tweak to maintain momentum. Shortly after, Liv replaced Beth in the 48th minute, continuing the rotation to keep players fresh.
The second half saw further substitutions as Isha returned to the field for Jaden and Ella replaced Sophie in the 62nd minute, restoring some of the original defensive structure. The scoring resumed in the 70th minute when Isha found the net, assisted by Beth, adding the eighth and final goal to the tally. The final substitutions involved Jaden coming back on for Beth in the 74th minute, and then Beth returning for Liv due to injury in the 80th minute.
Throughout the match, S J B Juniors demonstrated clinical finishing, intelligent movement, and a cohesive team effort that Stratford Town Womens & Girls U15 Orange were unable to counter. The defensive unit, marshalled by Sophia and Ella, kept a clean sheet, while Grace in goal remained largely untroubled. The midfield, particularly Freya and Eva, orchestrated the attacking play with precision and creativity.
Isha and Belle were named players of the match, reflecting their significant contributions both in midfield control and overall influence on the game. This comprehensive victory will boost S J B Juniors U16 Girls’ confidence as they continue their league campaign.
