Tenisons III Dominate Old Pauline 4th In 6-2 Cup Rout

Tenisons III welcomed Old Pauline 4th to Archbishop Tenison's School Sports Ground #1 on 1 November 2025 for a 2:00pm kick-off in a fiercely contested cup tie. The home side emerged emphatically victorious with a 6-2 scoreline after 90 minutes of action, showcasing attacking flair and defensive resilience.

Deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation, Tenisons III set up with Dave Garry in goal, protected by a back four of Sam Gleeson at right back, central defenders Josh Hannon and Jeremy Barton, and Sean McCoy on the left. The midfield double pivot featured Liam Mepham and Luke Hinds, tasked with both shielding the defence and initiating attacks. Ahead of them, the three attacking midfielders were Sean Smith on the right, Garth Foley centrally, and Sahr Gbembo on the left, supporting lone striker Matthew Sunday. This setup promised width, creativity, and a focal point up front to trouble the opposition defence. On the bench were Melvin Osadolor, Jarrod Chater, and Max Haley-Neilson, ready to impact the game if called upon.

The match began with Old Pauline 4th taking an early lead in the 16th minute, capitalising on a defensive mistake from Tenisons III. This setback appeared to ignite the home side’s response. Eight minutes later, Matthew Sunday restored parity, expertly finishing a chance created by Sahr Gbembo’s incisive play down the left flank.

Tenisons III then seized control of the game with a quickfire double. At the 30th minute mark, Gbembo himself found the net, thanks to a precise assist from Sean Smith on the right. Five minutes later, Smith turned provider, setting up Luke Hinds to deliver a perfect pass that Smith converted to give Tenisons III a 3-1 lead.

Just before half-time, the home side were forced into a substitution as Gbembo went off injured, replaced by Melvin Osadolor in the 43rd minute. Despite this disruption, Tenisons III continued their momentum. In the 44th minute, right back Sam Gleeson ventured forward to score, extending the lead to 4-1. The interval saw further changes with Jarrod Chater coming on for the withdrawn Matthew Sunday, and Max Haley-Neilson replacing Sean Smith, both at the 45th minute mark.

The second half saw Tenisons III maintain their dominance. Haley-Neilson made an immediate impact, scoring in the 53rd minute after a well-worked assist from Luke Hinds. The home side’s fluid attacking play was further rewarded in the 64th minute when Melvin Osadolor scored, assisted by Haley-Neilson, showcasing the effective link-up between the substitutes.

Tenisons III made two more substitutions shortly after, with Sean Smith returning to the pitch in place of Liam Mepham, and Matthew Sunday reintroduced for Josh Hannon in the 65th minute, signalling fresh legs and renewed attacking intent.

Old Pauline 4th managed to pull one back in the 83rd minute, but it was too little too late as Tenisons III’s commanding performance ensured a comfortable 6-2 victory. The home side’s blend of tactical discipline, attacking verve, and effective use of substitutes proved decisive in this cup encounter.