Malet Vikings U18 Dominate Cherry Burton F.C U17 8-1 At Brooklands Park

Malet Vikings U18 welcomed Cherry Burton F.C U17 to Brooklands Park Recreation Ground on 18 January 2026 for a league home match kicking off at 12:00pm. The Vikings produced a commanding performance to secure an emphatic 8-1 victory in this 11-a-side encounter, thrilling the 20 spectators in attendance.

Deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation, Malet Vikings set up with Ashton Cooke-Hill in goal. The defensive line featured Oli Thompson at right back, Axel Nicholson and Alfie Jackman as central defenders, and Ryan Case on the left flank. In midfield, Tommy Anson and Anthony Baker-Cortes operated as the two holding central midfielders, tasked with both shielding the defence and initiating attacks. Ahead of them, the three attacking midfielders were Lucas Hunt on the right, Alex Ward centrally, and Eliot Wilberforce on the left, all expected to support lone striker Will Schrimshaw. This setup aimed to balance defensive solidity with creative attacking options. The substitutes named were George Jackson, Kyle Evans, Louie McDonald, and Lucas Applegate.

The match burst into life early on when Lucas Hunt opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Receiving a short pass from Alex Ward inside the box, Hunt calmly slotted the ball home with his right foot from close range, giving the Vikings an early lead. However, just two minutes later, the home side suffered a blow as goalkeeper Ashton Cooke-Hill was shown a red card for an unspecified offence, forcing an early reshuffle.

Despite being reduced to ten men, Malet Vikings maintained their composure and tactical discipline. At the half-hour mark, a flurry of tactical substitutions saw George Jackson replace Anthony Baker-Cortes, Kyle Evans come on for Axel Nicholson, Louie McDonald enter for Lucas Hunt, and Lucas Applegate take the place of Will Schrimshaw. These changes injected fresh energy and saw the team continue to dominate proceedings.

The impact was immediate as Louie McDonald doubled the lead in the 35th minute, finishing off a well-worked team move with a short pass assist from Lucas Applegate. Just three minutes later, Eliot Wilberforce added a third, expertly converting a short pass from George Jackson with his right foot. The fluid attacking play was a hallmark of the Vikings’ approach.

Before the interval, George Jackson himself got on the scoresheet in the 41st minute, capitalising on a flicked assist from Wilberforce to score from close range with his left foot. The goal was a superb example of total teamwork with every player contributing starting from Jackman in goal!! The home side went into the break with a commanding 4-0 advantage.

The second half saw Malet Vikings continue their relentless assault. Louie McDonald struck again in the 48th minute, this time converting a close-range cross from George Jackson. Just four minutes later, Wilberforce was on target once more, tapping in a close-range finish from another cross delivered by Jackson. The left attacking midfielder then completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute, scoring from a goalmouth scramble following a short pass from Jackson.

Further tactical substitutions followed in the 61st minute with Axel Nicholson returning to the field for Tommy Anson and Will Schrimshaw replacing Ryan Case. Shortly after, Lucas Hunt came back on for Oli Thompson, and Anthony Baker-Cortes re-entered the fray in place of Alex Ward.

Cherry Burton F.C managed to pull a goal back in the 70th minute, providing a brief respite from the Vikings’ dominance. However, Malet Vikings quickly restored their commanding lead when Anthony Baker-Cortes headed home a close-range corner from George Jackson in the 80th minute, sealing the emphatic 8-1 scoreline.

Ryan Case and Eliot Wilberforce were standout performers, with Case’s defensive work on the left and Wilberforce’s attacking prowess proving crucial throughout the match. The referee, U Referee, officiated the game with authority and consistency, earning high praise for his performance.

In summary, Malet Vikings U18 delivered a comprehensive and clinical display at Brooklands Park, combining tactical flexibility, attacking flair, and defensive resilience to overwhelm Cherry Burton F.C U17 and secure a resounding league victory.