Wedgwood FC faced Clough FC in a thrilling cup away match at Newcastle Town on 17 April 2025, kicking off at 7:00pm. The match concluded with Wedgwood FC emerging victorious with a scoreline of 3-1, showcasing their attacking prowess and solid defensive work throughout the game.
Wedgwood FC adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allowed them to maintain a strong defensive base while providing ample support for their attacking players. Adam Dunn took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Brandyn Williams and Alex Bayley as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Jordan Coleman and Ricci Edwards forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, George Barlow and Henri Royals operated as central midfielders, tasked with both breaking up opposition play and facilitating attacks. The attacking trio featured Nick Bennet on the right, Shane Reaney on the left, and Craig Cookson in the central attacking role, with Ashley Ibbs leading the line as the striker.
The substitutes for Wedgwood FC included Callum Henry, Jay Blood, Ben Deakin, Archie Wemyss, and Owen Bott, providing tactical options for the manager as the match progressed.
The match began with an early defensive intervention from Ricci Edwards, who made a crucial clearance in the fifth minute, setting the tone for a solid defensive display. Just a minute later, Nick Bennet made a key long pass that created a chance, followed closely by another long pass from Alex Bayley, which also resulted in a scoring opportunity.
In the eighth minute, Craig Cookson attempted a shot that went high, but it was in the tenth minute that Wedgwood FC broke the deadlock. Ashley Ibbs scored the opening goal with a well-placed right-footed shot, assisted by Cookson's short pass. The early lead invigorated Wedgwood, who continued to press forward.
Defensively, Alex Bayley made a vital clearance in the 14th minute, while Ricci Edwards showcased his aerial ability with a header to prevent a chance for Clough FC in the 17th minute. George Barlow then made a long pass in the 21st minute, further demonstrating Wedgwood's attacking intent. Bennet was again involved in the action, delivering another long pass that created a chance in the 24th minute.
As the first half progressed, Cookson had another attempt saved in the 29th minute, and Barlow made a defensive header in the 30th minute to maintain the lead. Just before half-time, Ashley Ibbs had a shot saved, but Adam Dunn responded with a full-stretch save to deny Clough FC an equaliser, ensuring Wedgwood went into the break with a 1-0 advantage.
The second half began with Brandyn Williams making a defensive header in the 49th minute, followed by Shane Reaney's long pass that created another opportunity. Reaney himself had a shot saved in the 52nd minute, but it was George Barlow who doubled Wedgwood's lead in the 53rd minute. He scored with a header from a cross delivered by Reaney, showcasing the team's attacking fluidity.
As the match continued, tactical substitutions were made, starting with Callum Henry replacing Barlow in the 68th minute, followed by Jay Blood coming on for Reaney in the 70th minute. Henri Royals then extended the lead to 3-0 in the 74th minute, scoring with a well-placed shot after receiving an assist from Ricci Edwards.
In the 79th minute, Ben Deakin replaced Craig Cookson, and Brandyn Williams made a tactical substitution for himself in the 83rd minute. Shortly after, Archie Wemyss came on for Ricci Edwards in the 84th minute. However, Clough FC managed to pull one back in the 87th minute, scoring to make it 3-1.
As the match approached its conclusion, Henri Royals had another attempt saved in the 91st minute. In the dying moments, Owen Bott replaced Ashley Ibbs in the 93rd minute, and Craig Cookson returned to the pitch for Bott due to an injury in the 94th minute.
Wedgwood FC's performance was marked by a blend of solid defending and incisive attacking play, with Nick Bennet earning the accolade of Player of the Match for his influential contributions. The victory not only secured their progression in the cup but also highlighted their potential as a formidable force in the competition.
