Pink United Overwhelmed By White Team At Blackberry Lane

Pink United travelled to Blackberry Lane on 3 January 2026 for a 9-a-side cup away match against White Team, kicking off at 11:35am. The encounter ended in a 5-2 defeat for Pink United after a challenging 90 minutes plus injury time under referee Dave Lee, whose performance was impeccable in front of a crowd of 25,200.

Pink United lined up in a 3-4-1 formation, deploying Malcolm Bent in goal to marshal the defence. The back three consisted of Mickelo Smet at right defender, Dan Thick centrally, and Herb Salad on the left. The midfield quartet featured Tamm Slot on the right, David Son and Arthur Wright centrally, and Otis Dave on the left flank. Leading the line was striker Ben Lewis, supported just behind by the midfielders. This setup was designed to provide defensive solidity through the three at the back, with width and creativity expected from the midfield four, while Lewis was tasked with spearheading attacks and finishing chances. Simon Woke was named among the substitutes.

The match began with early tension as Dan Thick conceded a penalty in the 14th minute after a trip, earning himself a yellow card for a bad tackle. White Team confidently converted the spot-kick with their left foot, putting Pink United behind early. Despite this setback, Thick showed resilience and ten minutes later executed a vital tackle to prevent a clear chance, helping to keep the deficit at one goal.

White Team extended their lead in the 32nd minute with a spectacular scissors kick finished with their right foot, leaving Bent with no chance. The visitors struggled to contain their opponents’ attacking flair, and the pressure mounted. Just before half-time, in the 42nd minute, Ben Lewis pulled one back for Pink United by calmly slotting home a penalty with his left foot after a foul on his team. However, White Team’s aggression was noted as one of their players received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the same minute.

At the interval, the score stood at 2-1 to White Team. The second half saw Pink United attempt to regain control, but a misplaced pass by David Son in the 55th minute disrupted their rhythm, though it did not lead to a goal. Shortly after, in the 59th minute, Simon Woke was introduced for David Son in a tactical substitution aimed at injecting fresh energy into the midfield.

White Team’s dominance was reaffirmed in the 72nd minute when they scored a sublime lob from outside the box with their left foot, extending their lead to 3-1. Pink United responded with a goal of their own in the 79th minute as Herb Salad delivered a precise cross to Ben Lewis, who finished with a simple tap-in to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

The match took a decisive turn deep into injury time. In the 93rd minute, White Team scored an extraordinary overhead kick from outside the box with their left foot, stretching their advantage to 4-2. The closing moments were marred by controversy as Dan Thick received a second yellow card in the 97th minute for denying a goalscoring opportunity, resulting in a red card. Thick’s foul was an obstruction that conceded another penalty to White Team, who converted once more with their left foot, sealing a 5-2 victory.

Pink United’s valiant efforts were ultimately undone by defensive lapses and White Team’s clinical finishing. Despite the defeat, Ben Lewis’s brace stood out as a positive for the visitors, while Dan Thick’s involvement was pivotal but costly. The referee Dave Lee maintained control throughout a fiercely contested match, ensuring the game flowed despite the intensity.

White Team’s attacking prowess and composure under pressure proved decisive at Blackberry Lane, ending Pink United’s cup run in emphatic fashion.