Preston Manor Royals Dominate Ashurst Wood With Convincing 4-0 Win

On 3 January 2026, Preston Manor Royals welcomed Ashurst Wood to the Falmer Sports Complex for a league home match kicking off at 3:00pm. The Royals produced a commanding display to secure a 4-0 victory over their visitors in a match that saw them control proceedings from start to finish. Referee Rupert Wells oversaw the 90 minutes plus added time as Preston Manor Royals asserted their superiority in front of a modest crowd of 12.

Preston Manor Royals lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, deploying a balanced setup designed to dominate midfield and provide width in attack. Ryan Thompson took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, with a back four consisting of Sam Copeland at right back, Dominic Hewitt and Yassir Lekbir as central defenders, and Gillan Williams covering the left flank. Matt Howard operated as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and recycling possession. Ahead of him, Harvey Cagney occupied the right attacking midfield role, while Jake Atherton took up the left attacking midfield position, both expected to support the front three. The forward line featured Joel Mbimbo Miguel on the right, Valery Jingwa as the central striker, and Daniel Clark on the left, all charged with leading the offensive threat. The substitutes named on the bench were Marlon Perrin, Stiven Lopes, Daren Calver, Tyler Banting, and Adrian Bajka.

The Royals wasted no time in asserting their intent, with Daniel Clark opening the scoring in the sixth minute. Receiving the ball outside the box, Clark unleashed a precise left-footed strike from distance that found the net, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. Ashurst Wood struggled to respond as Preston Manor Royals continued to press forward.

At the 20-minute mark, Joel Mbimbo Miguel provided a well-measured cross into the box, which Valery Jingwa expertly converted with a close-range left-footed finish. This goal doubled the Royals’ advantage and highlighted the effective interplay between the right forward and the central striker.

Just eight minutes later, Joel Mbimbo Miguel was again instrumental, this time delivering a short pass to Jake Atherton who struck from outside the area with his left foot to extend the lead to 3-0. The goal demonstrated the fluidity of Preston Manor Royals’ attacking movement and their ability to create chances from midfield.

The scoring spree continued in the 31st minute when Valery Jingwa returned the favour with a short pass to Joel Mbimbo Miguel, who finished confidently inside the box with his right foot. This fourth goal effectively sealed the contest well before half-time.

Shortly after the fourth goal, Preston Manor Royals made a double substitution in the 35th minute, bringing on Marlon Perrin for Daniel Clark and Stiven Lopes for Joel Mbimbo Miguel. These changes maintained the team’s momentum while allowing fresh legs to sustain the high tempo.

As the first half drew to a close, another substitution saw Daren Calver replace Sam Copeland at right back just before the interval. The Royals entered the break with a commanding 4-0 lead, having dominated both possession and territory.

The second half saw further tactical adjustments with Joel Mbimbo Miguel and Daniel Clark reintroduced in the 64th minute, replacing Stiven Lopes and Valery Jingwa respectively. These changes refreshed the attacking options and kept Ashurst Wood on the back foot.

Ryan Thompson was called into action in the 75th minute, producing a full stretch save to deny Ashurst Wood a rare opportunity and preserve the clean sheet. His alertness and reflexes ensured the Royals’ lead remained intact.

In the closing stages, Preston Manor Royals made two more substitutions at the 79th minute, with Tyler Banting coming on for Harvey Cagney and Adrian Bajka replacing Daniel Clark. These final changes helped the team see out the match comfortably.

Preston Manor Royals’ comprehensive 4-0 victory was built on a solid defensive foundation, creative midfield play, and clinical finishing from their forwards. The early goals set the tone, and the team’s tactical discipline ensured Ashurst Wood were unable to mount any meaningful challenge throughout the 90 minutes.