Lancot Vipers Edge Thrilling 6-5 Five-A-Side Win Over Dunstable AFC

Lancot Vipers hosted Dunstable AFC at their home venue in Lancot on the morning of 13 December 2025, with kick-off at 10:00am. In a pulsating 40-minute five-a-side league encounter, the Vipers emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, 6-5, in a match packed with goals and tactical twists. The referee delivered a flawless performance, ensuring the fast-paced contest flowed smoothly throughout.

Lancot Vipers lined up in a 2-1-1 formation, typical for five-a-side football, with two central defenders providing the defensive backbone, a central midfielder orchestrating play, and a lone striker spearheading attacks. Jack Querino took his place in goal, tasked with commanding the area and organising the defence. Ethan Gibson and Joshua Lay-Flurrie operated as the central defensive duo, expected to shield the goalkeeper and initiate build-up play from the back. Harrison Bradding occupied the central midfield role, charged with linking defence and attack, distributing passes, and supporting both ends of the pitch. Up front, Oakley Wright led the line as the striker, aiming to convert chances and apply pressure on the opposition defence. The substitutes available to the Vipers were Albion Hasanaj, Caleb Taylor, Chloe Byass, Alex Forbes, and Teddy Young.

The match burst into life early on as Dunstable AFC took a shock lead in the third minute with a stunning long-range strike fired in with their right foot, catching the Vipers off guard. Just two minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage through a frantic goalmouth scramble, capitalising on a defensive lapse. Dunstable’s dominance continued as they netted a third goal in the eighth minute, further extending their lead and putting Lancot Vipers on the back foot.

Reacting swiftly, Lancot Vipers made a tactical substitution at the eighth minute, bringing on Albion Hasanaj to replace Ethan Gibson in defence, aiming to shore up their backline and stem the tide. The Vipers then launched a remarkable response, with Joshua Lay-Flurrie pulling one back in the ninth minute following a well-worked team move, expertly assisted by Harrison Bradding. Moments later, Bradding himself doubled the Vipers’ tally with a composed finish inside the box, set up by Albion Hasanaj, signalling a rapid shift in momentum. Bradding then struck again within the same minute to complete a quickfire hat-trick, igniting the home crowd and turning the contest on its head.

Lancot Vipers made further changes in quick succession, substituting goalkeeper Jack Querino for Caleb Taylor, and then replacing midfielder Harrison Bradding with Chloe Byass a minute later. Despite these alterations, Dunstable AFC managed to claw back a goal in the 16th minute, scoring from inside the box to keep the contest finely poised. The Vipers responded with another substitution at the 17th minute, bringing on Alex Forbes for Harrison Bradding, who had briefly returned before being replaced again.

The first half concluded at the 20-minute mark with the scoreline finely balanced, setting the stage for a gripping second half. Early in the second period, Dunstable AFC regained the lead with another clinical finish inside the box in the 26th minute, demonstrating their resilience and attacking threat.

Lancot Vipers refused to buckle and struck back in the 30th minute when Oakley Wright found the net from close range, expertly set up by a short pass from Chloe Byass. Just two minutes later, Lay-Flurrie himself scored, with a goal that further lifted the Vipers’ spirits. The home side continued to press, and in the 36th minute, Harrison Bradding scored once more from a goalmouth scramble, assisted by Lay-Flurrie’s short pass, extending the Vipers’ lead and edging them closer to victory.

With the match entering its final stages, Lancot Vipers made their last substitution at the 39th minute, bringing on Teddy Young for Joshua Lay-Flurrie to inject fresh legs and maintain their defensive solidity. The Vipers held on to their slender advantage despite Dunstable AFC’s relentless efforts, sealing a thrilling 6-5 victory in this high-scoring five-a-side league encounter.