Northfield Town Foundation U10 Lionesses Draw 2-2 At Elmdon Road

On 18 October 2025, Northfield Town Foundation U10 Lionesses travelled to Elmdon Road Cricket Ground to face Birmingham Rangers U9 Yellow in a 7-a-side league match, kicking off at 10:00am. The encounter ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw after 50 minutes of competitive football under the watchful eye of referee Robert Daly.

Northfield Town set up in a 2-3-1 formation, deploying two central defenders, three midfielders across the left, centre and right, and a lone striker leading the line. Georgia Brookes started in goal, with Alice Compton and Emmie-Rai Bartlam forming the defensive partnership. The midfield trio consisted of Harper Mills on the left, Elsie Ryder centrally, and Olivia Hobbis on the right, tasked with both defensive duties and supporting attacks. Upfront, Lyla Greenfield spearheaded the attack as the striker. Omie Jai Martin and Millie Parkes were named on the bench as the substitutes.

The match began with Northfield Town asserting early control, and it was Olivia Hobbis who quickly made her influence felt. In the 12th minute, she delivered a precise assist to Lyla Greenfield, who calmly finished to give the Lionesses the lead. This early goal set the tone for an open and competitive first half.

Shortly after, at the 18-minute mark, a tactical change saw Omie Jai Martin replace Alice Compton and Olivia Hobbis switched into defence. This substitution appeared to inject fresh energy into the backline. Just two minutes later, Martin made an immediate impact by scoring her goal, again assisted by Olivia Hobbis, who demonstrated excellent vision and delivery from right back.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the closing stages of the first half. Birmingham Rangers responded with two quickfire goals, turning the game on its head. The Lionesses found themselves equal on 2-2 by the time the half-time whistle blew at 25 minutes.

The second half saw Northfield Town pushing for an equaliser, but the game remained finely balanced. At 39 minutes, Georgia Brookes came on to replace Harper Mills and slotted in at RB. This change suggested a tactical reshuffle, to shore up the defence.

Later, at the 46-minute mark, Alice Compton returned to the field, replacing striker Lyla Greenfield. This switch indicated a shift towards reinforcing the defensive line as the Lionesses sought to maintain their position and possibly push for a late winner.

Despite the changes and efforts from both sides, neither team could find the decisive goal in the remaining minutes. The match concluded with honours even at 2-2, a fair reflection of a closely contested encounter.

Olivia Hobbis was deservedly named player of the match for her outstanding contributions from right midfield, and right back providing both assists and constant attacking impetus throughout the game. Her ability to create chances and link play was pivotal in Northfield Town’s performance.

Overall, the Lionesses showed resilience and attacking flair but were unable to hold their lead against a determined Birmingham Rangers side. The 2-2 draw at Elmdon Road Cricket Ground will serve as a valuable experience for the young Northfield Town squad as they continue their league campaign.