Mountfield Sharks U13 Thrash FC Spartan U13 Warriors 8-3 At Home

Mountfield Sharks U13 welcomed FC Spartan U13 Warriors to their home ground on 18 January 2026 for a league fixture kicking off at 12:00pm. The Sharks produced an emphatic display to secure an 8-3 victory in this 11-a-side contest lasting 70 minutes plus added time.

Deploying a 3-1-4-2 formation, Mountfield Sharks set up with three defenders at the back: Lucas Simpson on the right, Daniel O’Keefe centrally, and Alex Sampson on the left. Bradley Murrell operated as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking defence and attack. Ahead of him, four attacking midfielders lined up with Luca Dixon on the right, Jasper Heselwood and Jenson May centrally, and Harvey Stanfield on the left. Up front, Jack Lundy occupied the right forward position while Alex Savage led the line on the left. Adam guarded the goal. The substitutes available were Owen Shea and Harry Horsfield.

From the outset, the Sharks looked to impose their attacking shape. It was no surprise when the first goal came early, in the 8th minute, as Jack Lundy rose to meet a precise cross from left attacking midfielder Harvey Stanfield, powering a header beyond the FC Spartan goalkeeper. The Sharks’ fluidity in the final third was evident, and their early dominance was briefly interrupted when FC Spartan pulled one back in the 17th minute, reducing the deficit.

However, the Sharks responded swiftly. At 15 minutes, two substitutions were made: Owen Shea replaced central defender Daniel O’Keefe, and Harry Horsfield came on for attacking midfielder Jasper Heselwood. This fresh injection paid dividends just over ten minutes later when Horsfield scored his first goal of the match, finishing off a well-crafted move set up by right attacking midfielder Luca Dixon in the 26th minute.

Shortly after, at 27 minutes, further tactical changes saw Daniel O’Keefe return to the field, replacing right defender Lucas Simpson, while Jasper Heselwood was reinstated in place of Jenson May. These adjustments appeared to stabilise the team defensively and maintain attacking impetus.

Mountfield Sharks continued to pile on the pressure, with Alex Savage netting a goal in the 31st minute to extend the lead. The first half closed with Savage doubling his tally just before the break, scoring again in the 39th minute to make it 4-1. The Sharks’ attacking forwards were proving too much for the opposition defence.

Early in the second half, the Sharks made further substitutions to refresh their squad. Lucas Simpson returned to replace left defender Alex Sampson in the 42nd minute, and Jenson May came on for right forward Jack Lundy one minute later. These changes did not slow the Sharks’ momentum, as Harry Horsfield struck again in the 44th minute, marking his second goal and further increasing the lead.

The Sharks’ dominance was unrelenting. Jasper Heselwood found the net in the 52nd minute, followed by Alex Sampson scoring from a clever assist by Horsfield in the 57th minute. FC Spartan managed to score again in the 60th minute, but the Sharks’ lead was firmly established.

At 62 minutes, the Sharks made two more substitutions: Bradley Murrell replaced left attacking midfielder Harvey Stanfield, and Alex Savage returned to the pitch, taking over from right attacking midfielder Luca Dixon. The latter’s contribution throughout the match, particularly his assist for Horsfield’s goal, earned him the player of the match accolade.

As the game neared its conclusion, Lucas Simpson received a yellow card in the 69th minute for a late challenge. Despite this, the Sharks continued to press forward, with Alex Sampson scoring his second goal of the match in the 70th minute, assisted by Jack Lundy. FC Spartan responded with a late goal in the 71st minute, but it was too little too late.

Mountfield Sharks U13’s comprehensive 8-3 victory was built on a strong defensive base, creative midfield play, and clinical finishing from their forwards. The tactical flexibility shown through timely substitutions and the effective use of their 3-1-4-2 formation ensured they controlled the match from start to finish.