Cheltenham Town U12 Whites Dominate Wiltshire Academy At Royal Wootton Bassett

On Saturday 11 October 2025, Cheltenham Town U12 Whites travelled to the Royal Wootton Bassett Recreation Ground to face Wiltshire Academy in a 9-a-side league encounter, kicking off promptly at 10:45am. The visitors produced a commanding display to secure a comprehensive 7-1 victory in the 80-minute contest.

Cheltenham Town lined up in a 3-2-3 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Jamie Stinton took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, while the defensive trio consisted of Charlie Swain at right defender, Harry Williams centrally, and Lewis Pryce on the left. The midfield duo of Alfa Ceesay and Russ Cresswell were tasked with controlling the centre of the park, linking defence and attack. Up front, the three forwards were Henry White on the right, Jake Werrett leading as striker, and Teddy Hogan on the left, expected to provide width and goal threat. The substitutes named for Cheltenham were Oscar Jones, Flynn Gething, Alex Jones, and Rhys Ball.

The match began with an early statement of intent from Cheltenham as Henry White opened the scoring in the 5th minute, demonstrating his attacking instincts from the right forward position. Just six minutes later, striker Jake Werrett doubled the advantage, giving the visitors a strong foothold in the game. Cheltenham’s midfield dynamo Alfa Ceesay then unleashed a spectacular long-range strike in the 21st minute, extending the lead and showcasing his shooting prowess from central midfield.

Shortly after this goal, a flurry of substitutions took place around the 21st minute mark. Oscar Jones replaced Werrett up front, Flynn Gething came on for Ceesay in midfield, Alex Jones took over from right defender Charlie Swain, and Rhys Ball swapped in for left defender Lewis Pryce. Five minutes later, an injury forced another change as Harry Williams was substituted off for a returning Jake Werrett, who re-entered the fray to bolster the central defence.

The visitors’ dominance continued as Oscar Jones converted a penalty in the 27th minute, further increasing Cheltenham’s lead before the half-time whistle at 40 minutes. The penalty was awarded following a decisive moment that underscored Cheltenham’s attacking pressure.

At the interval, Cheltenham made tactical adjustments, bringing Alfa Ceesay back on for left forward Teddy Hogan, Lewis Pryce returned to replace central midfielder Russ Cresswell, and Charlie Swain resumed his role at right defender, replacing Harry Williams. These changes maintained the team’s shape and energy going into the second half.

The second half started brightly for Cheltenham with Rhys Ball, newly introduced at left defender, scoring in the 47th minute after a well-crafted assist from Jake Werrett. The momentum continued as Werrett himself struck twice in quick succession, netting goals in the 48th and 49th minutes. The first was a clinical finish inside the box with his right foot following a short pass from Oscar Jones, while the second was a composed left-footed effort after a slick team move, assisted by Rhys Ball.

Wiltshire Academy managed to pull a goal back in the 57th minute through a direct free-kick from outside the box, struck with precision using the right foot. Despite this, Cheltenham’s control of the match remained unshaken.

Further substitutions were made around the 61st minute to maintain freshness and tactical balance. Teddy Hogan returned to the pitch replacing Oscar Jones, Henry White came back on for Rhys Ball, Russ Cresswell re-entered midfield for Flynn Gething, and Harry Williams replaced Alex Jones in defence. Later, Oscar Jones was reintroduced for Teddy Hogan at the 72nd minute, followed by Alex Jones coming on for Charlie Swain and Rhys Ball replacing Alfa Ceesay a minute later. Flynn Gething also returned to the field, substituting for Jake Werrett at the 73rd minute.

Throughout the match, Cheltenham Town U12 Whites demonstrated a well-organised and fluid style of play, with their 3-2-3 formation allowing for both defensive coverage and attacking opportunities. The defensive trio, supported by the midfield pivot, effectively stifled Wiltshire Academy’s advances, while the front three combined skill, pace, and clinical finishing to produce a rich goal tally.

In summary, Cheltenham Town U12 Whites delivered an emphatic away victory, marked by early goals, sustained pressure, and effective squad rotation. Their 7-1 win at Royal Wootton Bassett Recreation Ground was a testament to their tactical discipline and attacking quality.