The Turf FC faced off against The Duke Of Wellington FC in a friendly match at the Delves Lane Community Association Pitch on 3rd July 2025, with the match kicking off at 7:00 pm.
The Turf FC lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, which saw Nick Dow in goal, supported by a back four consisting of Andy Gowland on the right, Jamie Tincknell and Jonny Thirlaway in central defence, and Ben Walton on the left. The midfield trio featured Lewis Currie on the right, Ian Johnstone in the centre, and Joe Currie on the left, while the attacking front three comprised Owen Hardy on the right, Cameron Bromley as the central striker, and Ryan Hardy on the left. This setup aimed to provide a balance between defensive solidity and attacking flair, with the wingers expected to stretch the play and create opportunities for Bromley.
David Tomlinson signalled the start of the game with the sound of the whistle. With both the wind against them and the sun in their eyes, it was always going to be a difficult half to endure for the Turf, and it became quite evident as the half progressed. Straight away the Duke showed a desire to push forward with the wind on their side, creating chance after chance that the Turf had to contend with. The first real chance of the game came from a free kick on the left of the pitch, as the cross was played in, sailing over Dow in goal, only to be met with a fantastic headering clearance off the line by Captain Jamie Tincknell.
However, disaster would be right around the corner as in the 20th minute, the Duke Of Wellington FC took the lead with a header from close range, catching The Turf's defence off guard. This goal came as a blow to the home side, who had been looking to settle into the game.
Even with the early kick up the arse, the Turf never really started playing as a team due to a lack of communication across the pitch from the home side. Just ten minutes later, The Duke doubled their advantage, capitalising on a defensive mistake from Andy Gowland, losing the ball to the attacker. A shot from outside the box found its way into the net, leaving Nick Dow with little chance to respond, kicking the goal-post in frustration (A decision that would effect the game later on). The Turf struggled to regain their composure, and in the 35th minute, they made another tactical change, bringing on new face Brandon for Ben Walton.
Another opportunity would arise from the Duke in the following moments when the Turf switched off, leaving the Duke to push an attack. With two men at the back post, the ball was fired across goal and blasted in from the Duke striker. However, the goal would not stand as the striker screamed "LEAVE IT!!" before taking the shot, keeping the score at 2-0.
As the first half drew to a close, The Turf FC was forced to make another substitution in the 40th minute, with Joe Currie returning to the pitch in place of Damo Freeman, who had sustained an injury. However, just before the half-time whistle, The Duke FC struck again, scoring their third goal from inside the box in the 44th minute, leaving The Turf FC trailing 3-0 at the break.
The second half began with a tactical substitution for The Turf FC, as Dan Gowland came on for Jonny Thirlaway in centre half. With the wind behind them, The Turf started the second half with more momentum. But it was The Duke that would create the first chance, taking the ball forward, the striker chipped the ball over Dow in goal, leaving an open goal, only to be met with a beautiful challenge from Brandon to prevent a certain goal. The Duke continued to apply pressure, and in the 55th minute, they would score their fourth goal as a cross floated in for a catch by Dow, but an unfortunate spill would lead to a simple tap-in from close range for the Duke striker, further extending their lead.
In an effort to change the momentum, The Turf FC made another substitution in the 70th minute, introducing Scott Thompson for Ian Johnstone. Shortly after, in the same minute, Jonny Thirlaway returned to the pitch, replacing goalkeeper Nick Dow, who had to leave due to injury, placing left back Andy Gowland in net with big gloves to fill.
Despite the mounting pressure, The Turf FC managed to find their stride and were never challenged for the rest of the game, as the ball was placed firmly in their court. A glimmer of hope would arise in the 75th minute when Joe Currie played a ball through for Scott Thompson darting down the right wing, taking the ball inside the area before smashing it top, near post and firing it into the roof of the net. This goal provided a brief respite for The Turf, but it was too little too late as the match drew to a close.
The final whistle confirmed a disappointing evening for The Turf FC, who will need to regroup and reflect on their performance ahead of future fixtures. The Duke Of Wellington FC, on the other hand, will take great confidence from their first game together, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical discipline throughout the match. Jamie Tincknell was notably recognised for his efforts, earning the man of the Match accolade amidst a challenging outing for The Turf FC.
