In a stunning display of attacking football, Tattenhoe Reds overwhelmed Stoke Hammond Warriors with a resounding 9-0 victory in their cup match held at Leon School on 26 October 2024. The match kicked off at 9:30 am, and the Reds showcased their dominance throughout the encounter, leaving their opponents reeling.
Tattenhoe Reds lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide both defensive solidity and attacking flair. Riley Prentice took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Michael Correia on the right, Spencer Underwood and Sammy Wilcox in central defence, and Tendekai Chikukutu on the left. In midfield, Emmanuel Popoola and Lucas Holmes operated as the central midfielders, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play. Ahead of them, Leo Whitehead and Taiven Hudson occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles, respectively, while Ryley Glover played centrally behind striker Jack Holt, who was the focal point of the attack. The substitutes for Tattenhoe included Nathan Douglas, Jack Gosling, Stephen Adjei, George Butler, and Micah McClements.
The Reds opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Nathan Douglas, who had just come on as a substitute for Taiven Hudson, found the net with a close-range effort, assisted by the industrious Emmanuel Popoola. This early goal set the tone for the match, and Tattenhoe continued to press forward, demonstrating their attacking intent.
Just six minutes later, in the 29th minute, George Butler doubled the lead, again with Popoola providing the assist. Butler's close-range finish left the Stoke Hammond defence scrambling, and the Reds were firmly in control as they headed into half-time with a 2-0 advantage.
After the break, Tattenhoe made tactical changes, bringing on Stephen Adjei for Jack Holt and George Butler for Popoola. The substitutions proved effective, as Adjei quickly made his mark by scoring in the 51st minute, converting a pass from Ryley Glover to extend the lead to 3-0.
However, the match took a dramatic turn in the 61st minute when goalkeeper Riley Prentice was penalised for holding, conceding a penalty. Prentice redeemed himself moments later, making a crucial save in the 62nd minute to deny Stoke Hammond any chance of a comeback.
The Reds continued their onslaught, with Ryley Glover scoring his first of the match in the 68th minute, finishing from close range after a corner taken by Taiven Hudson. The relentless pressure from Tattenhoe saw Jack Holt get on the scoresheet twice, first in the 71st minute with a right-footed effort assisted by Michael Correia, and then again in the 77th minute, heading home from a long pass by Emmanuel Popoola.
As the match approached its conclusion, Glover added another goal in the 79th minute, assisted by Popoola once more, before Taiven Hudson capped off the scoring with a stunning long-range strike in the 81st minute, making it 8-0. Holt then rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute, netting his hat-trick with a close-range finish from a Tendekai Chikukutu assist.
The final whistle confirmed a remarkable 9-0 victory for Tattenhoe Reds, a result that highlighted their attacking prowess and defensive resilience. The Reds will undoubtedly take great confidence from this performance as they progress in the cup competition.
