10-Men FOUNTAIN Lose Cup Dreams | FOUNTAIN 0-3 DUKE

The Fountain FC hosted The Duke Of Wellington FC at Delves Lane Community Association Pitch on 21 December 2025, with a 10:30am kick-off in a crucial cup tie.

Fountain FC lined up in a 4-2-1-3 formation, aiming to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Andy Gowland took his place in goal, protected by a back four consisting of captain Lewis Sullivan at right back, Dan Cave and Jamie Tincknell as central defenders, and Nathan Sterling on the left. The midfield double pivot featured Ian Johnstone and Joe Currie, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball. Ahead of them, Similoluwa Afilaka operated as the attacking midfielder, linking midfield and attack. The front three comprised Scott Thompson on the right, Favour Ekomemen leading the line as striker, and Lewis Currie on the left, expected to provide width and goal threat. On the bench were Owen Hardy, Brandon Fitzgerald, and Damo Freeman, ready to be called upon if needed.

The Fountain started strong, coming out swinging at the sound of the whistle, hitting the crossbar twice only minutes into the game, setting the tempo well as they dominated the match throughout, creating chances and putting pressure on the Duke, who never truly found their footing in the game.

The match took a sour turn for Fountain early in the first half when Similoluwa Afilaka tackled a Duke player, to be shown the yellow card, but once the referee has seen the opponents leg, has gone back on his decision to a straight red card. This left Fountain FC to play with ten men for the remainder of the game, forcing them to adjust their tactics and work harder defensively.

Despite the setback, the fountain stayed in control of the game, maintaining possession and breaking up the Dukes play. There was a fair few heated moments across the park, with both sides leaving late tackles in on their opponents.

The Duke Of Wellington would finally get the chance to attack, and on their first time of asking, despite a spirited performance from the fountain, capitalised on their numerical advantage, scoring a stunning goal from outside the box in the 35th minute. The strike was a screamer that left goalkeeper Andy Gowland with no chance, putting the visitors ahead before the break.

The first half concluded with The Duke Of Wellington FC leading 1-0, a scoreline that did not reflect the match, even after the sending off. Fountain FC’s challenge was now to regroup and find a way back into the game despite being a man down.

Early in the second half, Fountain FC made their first tactical substitution at the 55th minute, with Owen Hardy replacing Scott Thompson in an attempt to inject fresh energy into the right forward position. Ten minutes later, Brandon Fitzgerald came on for Nathan Sterling, signalling a reshuffle in the defensive line and midfield balance.

The challenges would keep on coming from both ends, with the Fountain feeling hard done by, with the sheer number of fouls committed by the away team, only to be waved away by the ref.

As the match progressed, Fountain FC continued to battle. In the 80th minute, Damo Freeman was introduced for Ian Johnstone, perhaps to add more dynamism in midfield as Fountain FC searched for a breakthrough.

However, The Duke Of Wellington FC extended their lead with a skilful lob in the 85th minute, further denting Fountain FC’s hopes of a comeback. Just four minutes later, the visitors sealed the victory with a goal from a 1v1 attempt inside the box, making it 3-0 and effectively ending the contest.

Despite the defeat, Ian Johnstone was named Man of the match for his tireless work in central midfield, showing resilience and commitment throughout the 80 minutes he was on the pitch.

Ultimately, Fountain FC were unable to overcome the setback of playing with ten men and The Duke Of Wellington FC’s clinical finishing, resulting in a disappointing exit from the cup at home.