Stoneygate Lion Juniors Secure 3-1 Win Over Kibworth Town Tigers

On 7 December 2025, Stoneygate Lion Juniors hosted Kibworth Town U14 Tigers at Judgemeadow Community College in a league fixture kicking off at 10:30am. The home side emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline after 70 minutes of competitive football, demonstrating effective attacking play and tactical flexibility.

Stoneygate Lion Juniors lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, deploying Neo Routledge in goal. The defensive line consisted of Theo Sebastian at right back, Priyan Purshottam and Hugo Harding as central defenders, and Hamza Mukadam covering the left back position. Across midfield, Dylan Atkins operated on the right wing, with Harvyn Purewal and Alfie Roberts occupying the central midfield roles, and Javyn Purewal positioned on the left flank. Just behind the lone striker, Will Neilson, played attacking midfielder Kabir Sian, tasked with linking play and creating chances. The substitutes available were Veer Purshottam and Oscar Pickering.

The match began with Stoneygate Lion Juniors quickly asserting themselves. Within four minutes, Kabir Sian provided a short pass inside the box to Will Neilson, who expertly finished with his right foot from close range to give the hosts an early lead. This early goal set the tone for the game, with the Lions pushing forward confidently.

As the first half progressed, Stoneygate continued to control possession and create opportunities. At the 30-minute mark, Will Neilson turned provider, delivering a precise cross into the box where Javyn Purewal was on hand to slot home a close-range finish with his right foot. This doubled the home side’s advantage and highlighted the effective interplay between the striker and left midfielder.

The half concluded at 35 minutes, with Stoneygate comfortably ahead 2-0. Shortly after the break, tactical changes were made. At 37 minutes, Harvyn Purewal was replaced by Veer Purshottam, while Oscar Pickering came on for Javyn Purewal, signalling a strategic reshuffle to maintain momentum and freshen the midfield and wing positions.

The second half saw Stoneygate continue to press forward. At 59 minutes, Kabir Sian again played a pivotal role, this time delivering a long pass into the box for Dylan Atkins, who finished neatly with his right foot from close range to extend the lead to 3-0. This goal underscored the attacking threat posed by the right midfielder and the creative vision of the attacking midfielder.

Kibworth Town Tigers responded swiftly, pulling a goal back just seven minutes later at 66 minutes. Their strike came from inside the box, finished with the right foot at close range, providing a glimmer of hope for the visitors.

Stoneygate made further adjustments in the closing stages. At 65 minutes, an injury forced the reintroduction of Javyn Purewal, who replaced Dylan Atkins on the right wing. Then, at 69 minutes, Hugo Harding was substituted off for Harvyn Purewal, reinstating the central midfielder in a tactical move to shore up the midfield and maintain control until the final whistle.

Despite Kibworth’s efforts, Stoneygate held firm to secure a 3-1 victory. The team’s blend of solid defensive organisation, midfield creativity, and clinical finishing proved decisive on the day. The early goals set the platform, and the tactical substitutions helped maintain their advantage throughout the contest.