SKFC Blues U13 travelled to St Thomas More RC College on 20 September 2025 for a league away fixture against R-Kix Manchester SOS u13s, kicking off at 1:15pm. Despite a bright start and a flurry of early goals, the Blues ultimately succumbed to a 5-3 defeat after a pulsating 70-minute contest.
Deploying a 3-1-4-2 formation, SKFC Blues U13 lined up with three defenders at the back: Owen Shea on the right, Daniel O’Keefe centrally, and Aaron Dooner on the left. Jasper Heselwood operated as the solitary central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack. Ahead of him, a quartet of attacking midfielders featured Lucas Simpson on the right, Harry Horsfield and Jack Lundy centrally, and Freddie Robinson on the left. Up front, Alex Savage took up the right forward role with David Matuszewski on the left. The goalkeeper was Kobe Gaskell. The formation suggested an emphasis on midfield control and wide attacking options, with the full-backs expected to support the midfield line. Jake Blackburn was named on the bench as the sole substitute.
The match burst into life almost immediately with Freddie Robinson opening the scoring inside the first minute, capitalising on a well-crafted team move finished off by a precise assist from Jasper Heselwood. This early breakthrough set the tone for the Blues, who doubled their lead just five minutes later. David Matuszewski found the net following another incisive pass from Heselwood, signalling a promising start for the visitors.
At the 20-minute mark, SKFC Blues made their first and only substitution, with Jake Blackburn replacing Lucas Simpson in the right attacking midfield position. This change aimed to inject fresh energy into the midfield as the visitors sought to maintain their momentum.
However, the R-Kix Manchester SOS u13s responded swiftly, pulling a goal back in the 21st minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Despite this, SKFC Blues restored their two-goal cushion nine minutes later when Alex Savage showcased individual brilliance to score a solo goal, once again set up by the ever-present Jasper Heselwood.
The visitors’ joy was short-lived as the home side struck again in the 33rd minute with a tap-in, making it 3-3 and setting up a tense remainder of the half. The first half concluded at the 35-minute mark with the scores level, reflecting the end-to-end nature of the contest.
The second half saw R-Kix Manchester SOS take control, scoring in the 42nd minute to seize the lead for the first time in the match. The Blues struggled to respond as the opponents added further goals in the 52nd and 54th minutes, the latter coming from a well-executed set piece that proved too much for the SKFC defence.
Despite their early dominance and attacking verve, SKFC Blues U13 were unable to find a way back into the game in the second half. The visitors’ defensive frailties were exposed as R-Kix Manchester SOS capitalised on their chances to secure a 5-3 victory.
The match was a showcase of attacking talent from both sides, with Jasper Heselwood particularly influential in the Blues’ forward play, providing three assists. Freddie Robinson, David Matuszewski, and Alex Savage all found the net for SKFC Blues, but it was not enough to overcome the relentless pressure and clinical finishing of the home side.
Jake Blackburn’s introduction at 20 minutes offered some fresh impetus, but the Blues could not stem the tide as R-Kix Manchester SOS u13s mounted a spirited comeback to claim all three points on home soil.
