Tenisons III Fall To Old Suttonians 5th In Cup Clash At Home

Tenisons III hosted Old Suttonians 5th at Old Tenisonians Third on 27 September 2025, with kick-off at 2:00pm in a crucial cup tie. The 90-minute encounter ended in disappointment for the home side as Old Suttonians 5th secured a 3-1 victory.

Tenisons III lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to balance defence and attack. Anes Papazachariou took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper. The defensive line featured Jack Keene at right back, Josh Hannon and Jeremy Barton as central defenders, and Sean C operating on the left flank. In midfield, Liam Mepham and Luke Hinds were tasked with central midfield duties, providing both defensive cover and transitional play. Ahead of them, the attacking trio consisted of Garth Foley on the right wing, Sahr Gbembo centrally positioned as the attacking midfielder, and Matthew Sunday on the left wing. Leading the line was Melvin Osadolor as the lone striker. Christian and CJ were the substitutes for this fixture.

The match began with both sides probing cautiously, but it was Old Suttonians 5th who struck first. In the 17th minute, a costly defensive error from Tenisons III gifted the visitors an early goal, unsettling the home team’s rhythm. Despite efforts to regain composure, Tenisons III were again caught out at the back in the 33rd minute when another defensive mistake allowed Old Suttonians 5th to double their lead.

As the first half drew to a close, Tenisons III sought to regroup during the interval, trailing 2-0. The home side’s formation suggested an intent to control the midfield and create chances through their attacking midfielders and wide players, but the defensive lapses proved costly.

The second half saw Old Suttonians 5th extend their advantage further in the 59th minute, capitalising once more on defensive frailties. Tenisons III did manage to pull a goal back, offering a glimmer of hope, but the visitors maintained control and saw out the remainder of the match comfortably.

Overall, Tenisons III’s 4-2-3-1 setup showed promise in theory, with midfielders Liam Mepham and Luke Hinds expected to shield the defence and link play forward. The attacking trio of Foley, Gbembo and Sunday were charged with creating opportunities for Osadolor, but the defensive errors undermined these efforts. Old Suttonians 5th took full advantage of these mistakes to secure a deserved 3-1 victory on enemy turf.