Tingley Athletic U15s Green hosted Kirkstall Crusaders FC U15 at Casson Avenue on 28 September 2025, with kick-off at midday. The league fixture ended in a 2-1 defeat for Tingley Athletic after a closely contested 80-minute match plus added time.
Tingley Athletic lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, deploying a balanced shape designed to provide defensive solidity and attacking support. Josh Shepherd took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, with a back four comprising Anthony Dobke at right back, Alfie Chalkley and Eli Dexter as central defenders, and Lucas Pannett-Jones operating on the left side of defence. The midfield four featured Harvey Crawshaw on the right wing, Sam Richardson and Luke Wilson occupying central midfield roles, and Austin Wade on the left flank. Up front, Abhi Manda and Kieran Bamforth formed the strike partnership, tasked with leading the line and converting chances. The substitutes bench included Lucas Kinder and Jayden Day, ready to influence the game if called upon.
The match began with Tingley Athletic showing intent, and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 20th minute. A well-worked move saw Kieran Bamforth provide a precise assist, threading the ball into the box for Abhi Manda. The strikers first shot hit the opposition goalkeeper and bobbled loose, before Abhi pounced on the loose ball calmly slotting the ball home from close range with his right foot to give the hosts an early advantage.
Shortly after, Tingley Athletic made their first change at the half-hour mark. Lucas Kinder replaced Sam Richardson in midfield, aiming to inject fresh energy into the middle of the park. Just four minutes later, Jayden Day came on for Luke Wilson, signalling a tactical tweak as the team sought to maintain their lead.
However, Kirkstall Crusaders responded before the break, earning a penalty in the 40th minute. The visitors converted from the spot, drawing level and shifting the momentum. The referee, Amy Foster, brought the first half to a close shortly after the penalty was scored, with the teams heading into the interval locked at 1-1.
The second half saw Tingley Athletic attempt to regain control, but the game remained finely balanced. In the 71st minute, a further substitution was made as Luke Wilson returned to the field, replacing Kieran Bamforth up front. This change aimed to bolster the midfield and provide additional support to the attack.
Just two minutes later, the visitors took the lead in an unfortunate manner for Tingley Athletic. A close-range own goal handed Kirkstall Crusaders the advantage, turning the tide decisively in their favour. Despite efforts from the home side to find an equaliser, the scoreline remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Throughout the match, Lucas Pannett-Jones stood out with his defensive performances on the left flank, earning him the player of the match accolade. His resolute defending and ability to support attacking moves were key highlights in an otherwise tough encounter for Tingley Athletic.
In summary, while Tingley Athletic u15s Green showed promise and took an early lead, Kirkstall Crusaders FC U15’s resilience and clinical moments, including a penalty and an own goal, ultimately secured them a 2-1 victory on Tingley’s home turf.
The coaches report “I felt we played well in the first half and we deserved the lead. I’m unsure about the decision to award Kirkstall the free kick which lead to the penalty, but unfortunately a moment of madness occurred and we made a mistake with the handball. The second half was disappointing considering how well we had done in the first. The energy dropped and we couldn’t get the ball on the ground long enough to play out of defence. We were losing in midfield too which hurt us with any attempt at transitioning into a counter attack. Although Kirkstall had us against the ropes, I feel we defended well enough to scrape a point. Unfortunately for us, Kirkstall played like they wanted it more and the own goal was really unlucky. We need to now go away, lick our wounds and make sure the level of energy and hunger is there throughout the full 80. We’ll be looking for a reaction at Rothwell.”
