The Turf FC played against Castleside Club FC in a friendly match held at the Delves Lane Community Association Pitch on 24 July 2025. The match kicked off at 7:00 PM. The Turf FC adopted a 4-1-2-3 formation, which allowed them to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Andy Gowland took his position as the goalkeeper, shielded by a back four comprising Nathan Sterling on the right, Jamie Tincknell and Jonny Thirlaway in central defence, and Brandon Fitzgerald on the left. Ian Johnstone played as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking play between defence and attack. The attacking trio featured Lewis Currie and Joe Currie as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively, while Liam Henry led the line as the striker, supported by Owen Hardy and Ryan Hardy as right and left forwards.
The match began with both teams testing each other's defensive lines, when right out of the bat, the Turf had a shout for a penalty with a blatant foul in the Castleside area on Owen Hardy breaking through, but the ref saw otherwise as play continued. The Turf came out swinging after that, constantly applying pressure to the opposition, creating some grand chances that were more times than enough squandered by the Castleside goalkeeper, keeping his side in the game with some impressive saves, most notably from an Owen Hardy attack on the left, bombing past the defence to be left 1v1 with the goalkeeper, only to hit it straight down the pipe for the keeper to parry the ball back to Hardy's feet, only to hit the rebound over the bar. There would be more chances like this that kept coming, we were dominant in corners with bountiful shots fired towards goal, only to be met with the strong glove of the Castleside keeper, parrying the ball back out into play countless times until the Turf collectively began to drop their level.
In the 30th minute, as the Turf struggled to find their spark, a throw-in was played back to Gowland in goal for his first touch of the game, passing the ball back out to his defence, but firing it too hard as it travelled out for a Castleside throw-in, who took the throw, played the ball into the box, and fired into the back of the net, putting the Turf on the back foot as it was clear their heads had dropped. However, this defensive mistake from The Turf ignited a fire within the players, who responded with urgency.
Moments later, Castleside were once again on the attack, playing the ball to one another on the edge of the Turf's box. When a player finally got the shot off, the ball was sent hurtling for the top right corner, leaving a scrambling Gowland for dead; but somehow, the keeper managed to fling himself high enough to flick the ball past his post for a corner with a finger-tip save, ultimately redeeming himself for the previous error.
Just five minutes later, in the 35th minute, Joe Currie provided a short pass into his brother, Lewis', feet, who took the ball under control, playing it expertly around the Castleside defence beyond the area, before he unleashed a powerful shot that left the goalkeeper with no chance as Currie finds his seventh goal in seven games; truly a man in form. The equaliser shifted the momentum firmly in favour of The Turf as they headed into half-time level at 1-1.
As the second half commenced, tactical changes were made immediately with Scott Thompson replacing Owen Hardy in the 45th minute. This substitution aimed to bolster The Turf FC's attacking options as play commenced. With the sound of the whistle and fire in their bellies, the Turf finally began to play the way they should, breaking the opposition down and finding their momentum, with a notable run- in from Nathan Sterling on the left, bombing down the wing and beating the defence to swing a cross in that was just narrow of goal. In the 55th minute, Jack Dawson came on for Ian Johnstone, further enhancing their midfield presence.
The Turf would finally find the net in the 60th minute when a long pass from Jonny Thirlaway in centre back played in Scott Thompson straight through the middle as the agile attacker steamed his way onto the ball, taking it into the box for a 1v1 with the keeper, as Thompson slots the ball past the Castleside Goalie in a composed finish inside the box, showcasing his poacher's instinct, putting The Turf ahead 2-1.
The substitutions continued as Robert Grzebyk entered the fray, replacing Jonny Thirlaway in the 65th minute. This change aimed to maintain fresh legs in defence as The Turf sought to consolidate their lead. In the 75th minute, Richard Alderson came on for Liam Henry as Lewis Currie pushed up into attack, adding more fresh energy into the lineup. The Turf FC continued to press for a third goal, demonstrating their attacking intent.
With the match nearing its conclusion, Jonny Thirlaway re-entered the pitch in the 80th minute, replacing Nathan Sterling, as The Turf looked to solidify their defence while maintaining their attacking threat.
The Turf FC's persistence paid off as they sealed their victory with a third goal, as they were awarded a penalty in the late stages of the game. Despite all odds, it was Brandon Fitzgerald who stepped up to the spot, staring down the line at his own father between the sticks as the duo duelled for their bragging rights. Brandon placed the ball on the spot, took his paces, and fired the ball down to his fathers left, only to be saved, and pushed back out into play, only for the young Fitzgerald to wallop the ball back into the net, gifting the home-side a 3-1 lead before the ref blew the final whistle.
Lewis Currie's performance was particularly noteworthy, earning him the title of Man of the Match for his exceptional goal and overall contribution to the team's success. The Turf FC's tactical execution and individual brilliance shone through once they finally settled into the game, setting a positive tone for their next fixture against old rivals, Craghead.
