Cheltenham Town U12 Whites Fall To 6-3 Defeat At Weston Super Mare

On the morning of 22 November 2025, Cheltenham Town U12 Whites travelled to Weston Super Mare for a league away fixture, kicking off promptly at 9:15am. The 9-a-side contest, played over 80 minutes plus added time, ended in a 6-3 defeat for Cheltenham despite spirited efforts.

Cheltenham lined up in a 3-2-3 formation, deploying three defenders at the back, two central midfielders, and three forwards across the front line. Harry Williams took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper. The defensive trio consisted of Alex Jones at right defender, Charlie Swain centrally, and Lewis Pryce on the left. In midfield, Alfa Ceesay and Russ Cresswell were tasked with controlling the centre of the park. Up front, Henry White operated on the right forward flank, Oscar Jones led the line as striker, and Teddy Hogan occupied the left forward position. The substitutes available were Flynn Gething and Thomi Schoular.

The match began with Cheltenham attempting to assert themselves in a formation designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking options. The three defenders were expected to maintain a compact backline, while the midfield duo would link play and support both defence and attack. The front three were charged with stretching the opposition and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

Early into the first half, a double substitution at the 21st minute saw Flynn Gething replace Alfa Ceesay in midfield, while Thomi Schoular came on for Henry White on the right forward line. This tactical tweak suggested a desire to inject fresh legs and perhaps alter the attacking dynamics.

Cheltenham’s first goal came just before half-time, in the 39th minute, when Russ Cresswell found the net inside the box. The goal was expertly set up by Oscar Jones, who delivered a precise short pass allowing Cresswell to finish confidently with his right foot. This strike gave Cheltenham a glimmer of hope heading into the break.

At half-time, the scoreline reflected a closely contested affair. Immediately after the interval, further changes were made: Henry White returned to the pitch, replacing Oscar Jones up front, while Alfa Ceesay came back into midfield, taking the place of Charlie Swain in central defence. These substitutions indicated a reshuffle aimed at regaining control in midfield and defence.

Just a minute into the second half, Henry White made an instant impact by scoring from outside the box with a left-footed effort. This goal briefly narrowed the deficit and showcased White’s ability to strike from distance.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the 49th minute when Weston Super Mare capitalised on an own goal at close range, scored with the right foot, to extend their lead. This unfortunate event unsettled Cheltenham and opened the floodgates.

At the 61st minute mark, Cheltenham made two more substitutions: Charlie Swain returned to the defence, replacing Alex Jones at right defender, and Oscar Jones came back on as striker, taking the place of Teddy Hogan. These changes were likely intended to shore up the backline and refresh the attacking threat.

Despite these efforts, Weston Super Mare continued to press their advantage. In quick succession, they scored three goals between the 64th and 67th minutes. The first was a right-footed finish following a defensive mistake, followed by a close-range header, and then another inside-the-box strike with the right foot. This trio of goals effectively put the game beyond Cheltenham’s reach.

Weston’s dominance was further emphasised in the 70th minute when they added a solo goal, again finished with the right foot, demonstrating individual skill and composure.

Cheltenham did respond with a goal of their own in the 75th minute through substitute Flynn Gething, who scored from outside the box with a right-footed shot. This goal was a testament to Gething’s impact after coming on early in the match.

Nevertheless, Weston Super Mare sealed their victory with a final goal in the 78th minute, scored with the left foot, rounding off a comprehensive 6-3 win.

In summary, Cheltenham Town U12 Whites showed resilience and attacking intent throughout the match, particularly with goals from Russ Cresswell, Henry White, and Flynn Gething. However, defensive lapses and a series of goals conceded in the second half ultimately proved decisive in the outcome at Weston Super Mare.