Euxton Villa U16 Black Edge Past Glenside Juniors U16 Lions 2-1

Euxton Villa U16 Black hosted Glenside Juniors U16 Lions at Jim Fowler Memorial Ground on 12 October 2025, with kick-off at 11:30am in a fiercely contested cup tie. The home side emerged victorious by a narrow 2-1 margin after 80 minutes of competitive football, securing progression in the tournament.

Euxton Villa lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, deploying Adam Tucker in goal behind a back four of Alex Howarth at right back, Harley Ashton and Louis Grant as central defenders, and Finlay Mann on the left. Frank Cooper operated as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and recycling possession. Ahead of him, a quartet of attacking midfielders featured Archie Finch on the right flank, Ollie Bamber and Ethan Bingham centrally, and Roman Taylor on the left, all supporting the lone striker William Murray. This setup was designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking width and creativity. The substitutes named were Lucas Harvey, Atawullah Ehsani, Jack Shirley, Junior Cummins, and Oliver Gardner.

The match began with intensity as Louis Grant was cautioned by the ref early for a trip in the third minute but luckily no yellow card was shown, signalling a physical encounter. William Murray tested the opposition goalkeeper with a well-struck effort in the 15th minute, though it was comfortably saved. Glenside Juniors responded with aggression, receiving a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 21st minute, which set the tone for a robust midfield battle.

Euxton Villa’s attacking intent was clear as Murray again went close in the 27th minute, this time firing wide. However, the breakthrough came swiftly after when Roman Taylor delivered a precise cross from the left wing, allowing William Murray to rise highest and head home in the 28th minute, giving the hosts a deserved lead. Villa continued to press, with Ollie Bamber forcing another save just a minute later and Roman Taylor narrowly missing the target with a wide shot in the 32nd minute.

The first half saw a forced change for Euxton Villa as Archie Finch was replaced by Lucas Harvey due to injury in the 36th minute. The half concluded with a foul by Ethan Bingham, who was picked out by the ref for a push on the edge of the box, and an attempt from Ollie Bamber that went wide shortly after the break.

Tactical substitutions began early in the second half with Atawullah Ehsani replacing Louis Grant in the 41st minute, followed by Jack Shirley coming on for Alex Howarth at the 50-minute mark. Despite these changes, Glenside Juniors found an equaliser in the 53rd minute, scoring from close range inside the box with a right-footed finish that tested Adam Tucker’s reflexes but ultimately beat him.

Euxton Villa responded promptly, regaining the lead in the 59th minute when Lucas Harvey, on as a substitute, whipped in a cross that William Murray converted from close range, restoring the advantage. The home side then made further tactical adjustments with Junior Cummins replacing Roman Taylor in the 60th minute, Oliver Gardner coming on for William Murray a minute later, and Louis Grant returning to the field for Frank Cooper.

Lucas Harvey continued to influence the game, hitting the post with a powerful strike in the 71st minute, while Ethan Bingham’s effort soared high over the bar two minutes later. The match remained tense as Glenside Juniors received a second yellow card for dissent in the 75th minute, further complicating their task. Archie Finch came back on the pitch to replace Atawullah Eshani in the 75th minute just to help solidy the defence and hold on for the win.

Euxton Villa held firm in the closing stages to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Lucas Harvey and Roman Taylor were standout performers, both earning player of the match honours for their significant contributions in attack and midfield creativity. The win ensured Euxton Villa U16 Black’s progression in the cup, much to the delight of the home supporters.