Saturday Ravens travelled to Hurley Kings FC on 27 September 2025 for an 11:00am kick-off in a seven-a-side league away fixture that ended in a 4-2 defeat. The match lasted 50 minutes plus added time, with the home side Hurley Kings Dragons prevailing by two goals.
The Ravens lined up in a 2-3-1 formation, deploying two central defenders, three midfielders across the left, central and right channels, and a lone striker up front. Jedd Garrett took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper. The defensive duo consisted of Reggie Dedmen-Ert and Jake Whiteman, tasked with shielding the goal and organising the backline. In midfield, Walter Hughes operated on the left, Alex Smigiel held the central midfield role, and Hugo Evans patrolled the right flank, expected to provide width and link play. Leading the attack was Rueben Allured-Rowley, the focal point of the offence. The substitutes available were Oliver White and Nicholas Czwartosz.
From the outset, Saturday Ravens showed intent with early attempts on goal. Walter Hughes tested the opposition keeper in the opening minute, followed by a strike from Alex Smigiel two minutes later. However, the home side quickly capitalised, scoring in the fourth minute to take an early lead. The Ravens responded with an effort from Hugo Evans in the fifth minute and a double attempt at goal in the seventh minute from Rueben Allured-Rowley and Walter Hughes, signalling their attacking ambition.
The breakthrough for the visitors came in the ninth minute when Alex Smigiel curled a direct free-kick into the net, levelling the score and injecting belief into the Ravens’ play. Shortly after, a flurry of substitutions took place around the 14th and 15th minutes: Oliver White replaced Walter Hughes, Nicholas Czwartosz came on for Jake Whiteman, and Walter Hughes returned to the field, this time taking over from Alex Smigiel in midfield.
Despite these changes, the Ravens struggled to maintain defensive solidity. Rueben Allured-Rowley had a notable attempt on goal in the 19th minute, followed by two efforts from Oliver White at the 20th and 23rd minutes, but the home side’s pressure told just before half-time. At the 25th minute mark, the Hurley Kings Dragons restored their lead, making it 2-1 going into the break. The Ravens also made further substitutions at half-time, with Jake Whiteman returning to replace Reggie Dedmen-Ert and Alex Smigiel coming back on for Rueben Allured-Rowley.
The second half saw Oliver White continue to press forward, attempting a shot in the 28th minute, while Walter Hughes also tested the opposition defence in the 31st minute. Another substitution at the 35th minute saw Rueben Allured-Rowley return to the pitch in place of Oliver White, signalling a tactical shift to regain attacking impetus.
The Ravens managed to draw level again in the 40th minute when Rueben Allured-Rowley converted a well-delivered assist from Walter Hughes, showcasing good interplay between striker and midfielder. At the same time, Reggie Dedmen-Ert replaced Hugo Evans, shoring up the defence, while goalkeeper Jedd Garrett made a crucial save to keep the scores level.
Unfortunately for the visitors, the home side struck back in the 45th minute to regain the lead at 3-2. Oliver White returned to the field for Nicholas Czwartosz shortly after. The closing stages saw Rueben Allured-Rowley contribute defensively, but the Hurley Kings Dragons extended their advantage with a fourth goal in the 49th minute, sealing the victory.
Despite spirited efforts and moments of quality from the Ravens, particularly from Smigiel’s free-kick and Allured-Rowley’s goal, the home side’s clinical finishing and timely goals proved decisive. The substitutions throughout the match reflected attempts to find the right balance, but ultimately Saturday Ravens were unable to overturn the deficit at Hurley Kings FC.
