Tingley Athletic U15s Green Edge Thrilling 4-3 Win Over Wrenthorpe Rangers

Tingley Athletic Greens hosted Wrenthorpe Rangers at East Ardsley Rec on Sunday 19 October 2025, with kick-off at 10am in a pulsating u15s league encounter. The 80-minute contest, officiated by referee Dave Bamforth, ended in a narrow 4-3 victory for the home side in an entertaining 11-a-side clash.

Tingley Athletic deployed a classic 4-4-2 formation, aiming to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Josh Shepherd took his place between the sticks as goalkeeper, protected by a back four comprising Anthony Dobke at right back, Alfie Chalkley and Eli Dexter as central defenders, and Lucas Pannett-Jones on the left flank. The midfield line featured Harley-Jay Eastwood on the right wing, Harvey Crawshaw and Jayden Day centrally, and Lucas Kinder on the left. Up front, the strike partnership consisted of Kieran Bamforth on the right and Abhi Manda on the left, both expected to spearhead the attack and convert chances.

The substitutes named for Tingley Athletic were Luke Wilson, Austin Wade, Abdul Ali, and Kaden Munder, ready to inject fresh legs as the match unfolded.

From the early stages, Tingley Athletic showed intent, with the first goal arriving in the 7th minute. Abhi Manda provided a neat short pass to Harvey Crawshaw, who finished from close range with his right foot, giving the hosts an early lead. Just two minutes later, Jayden Day tested the opposition keeper with a shot that was comfortably saved, signalling Tingley’s attacking threat.

The home side doubled their advantage in the 12th minute when Abhi Manda confidently converted a penalty, extending the lead to 2-0. Despite a wide effort from Crawshaw at 21 minutes, Tingley continued to press, and their persistence paid off in the 24th minute. Harley-Jay Eastwood’s short pass set up Manda, who slotted home from close range inside the box to make it 3-0. Manda then had another chance at 26 minutes but fired wide.

At the 28-minute mark, Tingley made a double substitution, bringing on Luke Wilson for Jayden Day and Austin Wade for Lucas Kinder, signalling a tactical tweak to maintain momentum. Abhi Manda was in sensational form, completing his hat-trick in the 32nd minute with a solo goal that showcased his skill and composure.

Despite further wide attempts from Crawshaw at 36 minutes, Tingley maintained a commanding lead as the first half drew to a close. However, Wrenthorpe Rangers pulled one back in the 40th minute through a goalmouth scramble, reducing the deficit to 3-1 just before the break.

The half-time whistle blew with Tingley leading 3-1, but the visitors were far from finished. Early in the second half, goalkeeper Josh Shepherd made a crucial save at 43 minutes, shortly before Tingley made another substitution, replacing Harley-Jay Eastwood with Abdul Ali.

Wrenthorpe continued to apply pressure, and at 45 minutes, Kieran Bamforth’s effort was saved, followed by a saved attempt from Manda at 46 minutes. The visitors struck again at 57 minutes, narrowing the gap to 3-2 and setting up a tense finale.

Tingley’s Manda remained a constant threat, with saved attempts at 64 and 46 minutes, and a wide shot at 74 minutes. The home side made further changes to shore up the defence, substituting Alfie Chalkley on for Lucas Pannett-Jones at 74 minutes and Kaden Munder for Eli Dexter at 78 minutes.

Goalkeeper Shepherd was called into action again at 75 minutes, making another vital save to keep Tingley’s lead intact. However, Wrenthorpe Rangers were relentless and managed to equalise at the 80th minute, bringing the scoreline to 3-3 in a dramatic late twist.

Despite the visitors’ fightback, Tingley Athletic found a decisive breakthrough to clinch the victory. The final scoreline of 4-3 reflected a fiercely contested match where both sides showed attacking verve and resilience. The home team’s tactical discipline and clinical finishing ultimately proved the difference in a thrilling league encounter.