Witham Friary U13 faced off against Bath Arsenal Youth U13 Pumas in a gripping on 8 May 2025. The match kicked off at 6:30pm and ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, with both teams showcasing their talents in a fiercely contested battle.
Witham Friary adopted a 4-5-1 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their lone striker. Finlay Patrick took his place in goal, with a back four consisting of Dempsey Matthews on the right, Elliott Atwood and Dylan Turner in central defence, and Nikolaj Ostergaard on the left. The midfield was packed with creativity and energy, featuring Jahmiah Harding on the right, Max Norris and Leo Griffin centrally, and Cristiano Do Amaral Vanzil on the left, while Zak Daniels led the line as the solitary striker. The substitutes for the match included Sullivan Collis, Seth Taylor, Matthew Lyons, and Ethan Oatley.
The match started brightly for Witham Friary, as they took an early lead just five minutes in. Zak Daniels capitalised on a precise short pass from Archie Hansford, slotting the ball home with his right foot from inside the box, sending the visiting supporters into raptures. The early goal set the tone for an exciting first half, with both teams eager to assert their dominance.
Archie Hansford was keen to add to the scoreline and had a chance to do so just two minutes later, but his effort went high over the bar. Witham continued to press, and Leo Griffin tested the Bath Arsenal goalkeeper with a shot that was saved from a free kick while Hansford again came close but missed the target, sending his attempt just wide.
The first substitution for Witham came in the 17th minute when Sullivan Collis replaced Jeremiah Harding. Shortly after, Seth Taylor entered the fray, taking over from Hansford in the 21st minute. Matthew Lyons followed suit, coming on for Nikolaj Ostergaard in the 24th minute, as Witham sought to maintain their early momentum.
Despite their substitutions, Witham struggled to convert their chances, with Dylan Turner long range free kick evading everyone in the box and going narrowly wide.
Just before halftime Witham pressure paid off as they doubled their lead. A short throw from Matthew Lyon’s picked out Dylan Turner whose sumptuous cross into the box was met by Sullivan Collis who steered the ball into the net with a toe poke to be proud of. The first half concluded with Witham holding onto their two goal lead.
The second half began with a flurry of action, as Bath Arsenal quickly pulled one back in the 47th minute, catching Witham off guard. The home side then won a penalty in the 51st minute which was duly converted.
Witham's resolve was tested, but they responded well, and should have had a penalty in the 56th minute after Nikolaj Ostergaard was bundled to the floor but the referee thought otherwise.
As the match neared its conclusion, Finlay Patrick showcased his goalkeeping prowess with a crucial parry in the 69th minute, denying Bath Arsenal a potential winner. Sullivan Collis had one last opportunity to secure victory for Witham, but his attempt went just wide, leaving the match to finish in a stalemate.
In the end, both teams displayed commendable skill and determination, sharing the spoils in an entertaining encounter that will be remembered by players and fans alike.
