Stroud United Res welcomed King's Stanley Reserves to Stratford Court on 21 August 2025 for a friendly encounter that ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for the home side. The match kicked off at 6:30pm and saw a modest attendance of 20 spectators, who were treated to a display of determination and skill from both teams.
Stroud United lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Owen Bennett took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Ethan Yip on the right, Alex White and Ben Abbott in central defence, and Jason Wright on the left. Tom Ticehirst operated as a central midfielder, tasked with linking play between defence and attack. The attacking trio featured Ben Brown on the right, Jamie Marriott on the left, and Casey Carter as the central striker, with Jack Wells supporting as the right forward. The substitutes for Stroud included Ben Mutlow, Josh Fletcher, Oscar Fairfax, and Louis De Felice.
The match began with an early defensive intervention from Ben Abbott, who made a crucial clearance just a minute in, setting the tone for a competitive encounter. Stroud United quickly took the lead in the second minute when Casey Carter found the back of the net, assisted by Jamie Marriott, sending the home crowd into raptures.
As the first half progressed, Stroud United maintained pressure, with Ethan Yip attempting a shot in the 12th minute that went wide. Tom Ticehirst showcased his defensive capabilities with a header in the 14th minute, while Jason Wright's effort shortly after was sent high over the bar. Owen Bennett, in goal, demonstrated his composure by catching a cross in the 16th minute, ensuring his side remained in control.
Defensively, Alex White made an important interception in the 17th minute, while Casey Carter's attempt in the 19th minute also went high. Jack Wells was caught offside in the 20th minute, followed by Jason Wright facing a similar fate five minutes later. Stroud United continued to press, with Jack Wells forcing a save from the King's Stanley goalkeeper in the 30th minute, but the score remained 1-0 as the half drew to a close.
The second half began with a substitution for Stroud, as Josh Fletcher replaced Jamie Marriott, and Ben Mutlow came on for Alex White. Owen Bennett was called into action again in the 50th minute, making an interception to deny the opposition any chance of an equaliser. Alex White, who had just been substituted, made his presence felt with a header in the 51st minute, showcasing the depth of Stroud's defensive unit.
Tom Ticehirst's attempt in the 52nd minute went wide, while Casey Carter's effort in the 54th minute also failed to hit the target. In the 59th minute, Oscar Fairfax replaced Ethan Yip, adding fresh legs to the right side of defence. Ben Mutlow made an interception in the 60th minute, further solidifying Stroud's defensive efforts.
As the match progressed, Jamie Marriott returned to the pitch in the 65th minute, taking the place of Ben Brown. Ben Mutlow continued to impress with a header in the 67th minute, followed by a tackle from Ben Abbott that thwarted a King's Stanley attack. Stroud made further changes, with Alex White coming on for Ben Abbott in the 68th minute and Louis De Felice replacing Alex Castle in the 69th minute.
Owen Bennett's goalkeeping skills were on display again in the 69th minute as he caught another cross, maintaining the clean sheet. In the 71st minute, Ethan Yip returned to the pitch, taking over from Jason Wright, while Ben Mutlow continued to shine with a header and clearance in the following minutes.
As the match neared its conclusion, Tom Ticehirst's attempt in the 74th minute went high, but Stroud's defence remained resolute. In the 76th minute, Casey Carter was substituted for Ben Brown, adding fresh energy to the attack. The final minutes saw Ethan Yip and Jack Wells making crucial defensive plays, while Alex White and Ben Mutlow ensured the backline held firm.
As the referee blew the final whistle, Stroud United Res emerged victorious with a hard-fought 1-0 win, showcasing their defensive strength and attacking prowess. Jack Wells was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance, contributing significantly to both defence and attack throughout the game.
