East Grinstead Town Held To Draw By Eastbourne Town Youth

East Grinstead Town faced off against Eastbourne Town Youth U14 Blue in a closely contested league match at the East Grinstead Town U13 venue on 30 March 2025. The match, which kicked off at 12:00pm, ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams showcasing their skills in a thrilling encounter.

East Grinstead Town lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking opportunities. Josh Goody took his position in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Tim Greenyner on the right, Bobby Lindsay and Charlie Walton in central defence, and Tommy Clarabut on the left. The midfield was composed of Dexter Sudbury on the right, Logan Cooney and Toby Broughton centrally, and Mason Malone on the left. Up front, Haydon Davis and Harry Goodall were tasked with leading the line as forwards, looking to exploit any defensive lapses from the opposition.

The substitutes for East Grinstead Town included Mason Terry, Tom Piper, Sam Gadd, and Max Dodson, who were all poised to make an impact should the need arise during the match.

The first significant moment came in the 24th minute when Logan Cooney opened the scoring for East Grinstead Town. Cooney found the back of the net from close range, expertly converting a free kick delivered by Toby Broughton. The goal injected a wave of confidence into the home side, who began to assert their dominance in the midfield.

However, the match took a tactical turn in the 35th minute as East Grinstead Town made a series of substitutions. Mason Terry replaced Tim Greenyner, Tom Piper came on for Mason Malone, Sam Gadd took the place of Charlie Walton, and Max Dodson stepped in for Logan Cooney. These changes were aimed at refreshing the team and maintaining their momentum as they headed into the second half.

The first half concluded with East Grinstead Town leading 1-0, but the visitors were far from finished. The second half saw Eastbourne Town Youth U14 Blue ramp up their efforts, and in the 63rd minute, they found an equaliser. The goal came from a well-executed lob, which left the East Grinstead defence scrambling and brought the score to 1-1.

With the match finely poised, both teams pushed for a winner, but neither could find the decisive goal. The referee, Keith Ferguson, ensured the game flowed smoothly, allowing for an engaging spectacle for the 30 spectators in attendance.

As the final whistle blew, East Grinstead Town and Eastbourne Town Youth U14 Blue shared the spoils in a match that highlighted the competitive spirit of youth football. Both teams will take valuable lessons from this encounter as they continue their league campaigns.