Westerhope United U13 Gold Fall To Newcastle East End F.C U13 Inter 2-1

Westerhope United U13 Gold hosted Newcastle East End F.C U13 Inter at Westerhope United Juniors Football Club on the morning of 9 November 2025, with kick-off at 10:30am. The league encounter ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat for Westerhope after a competitive 70 minutes of football plus added time.

Westerhope lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, deploying Lucas in goal to marshal the defence. The back four consisted of Daniel at right back, Jack and Riley as central defenders, and Luke H on the left flank. Jackson operated as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and recycling possession. Ahead of him, the midfield quartet featured Craig on the right wing, Mason L and Tommy-Lee centrally as attacking midfielders, and Finley on the left wing. Leading the line was striker Logan, expected to spearhead attacks and convert chances. The substitutes bench included Luke M, Zak, and Joe, ready to provide fresh legs as the match unfolded.

The game burst into life early on when Newcastle East End took the lead in the third minute, capitalising on a swift attacking move that unsettled Westerhope’s defence. However, Westerhope responded quickly, and just four minutes later, an own goal from a Newcastle East End player, following a clever assist from Craig, levelled the scores. This early exchange set the tone for a tightly contested first half.

Westerhope’s defensive line, marshalled by Jack and Riley centrally, faced constant pressure from Newcastle’s forwards. Riley, in particular, stood out with his composed and resolute defending, earning him the player of the match accolade. Lucas in goal was kept busy but managed to keep his side in the game with several key saves.

The first substitution came in the 18th minute when Luke M replaced Daniel at right back, and Zak came on for Mason L in midfield. These changes aimed to inject energy and maintain the team’s shape as the match intensified. Westerhope continued to press forward, with Craig and Tommy-Lee looking to create openings from wide and central positions.

As the half progressed, further tactical adjustments were made. At the 35-minute mark, Joe replaced Finley on the left wing, Daniel returned to the field taking over from Luke H at left back, and Mason L came back on for striker Logan. These multiple substitutions coincided with the half-time whistle, signalling a pause in the action with the score locked at 1-1.

The second half saw Westerhope make another change early on, with Finley coming on for Jackson in the holding midfield role at the 47th minute. This switch aimed to bolster creativity and ball progression through the middle. Later, at the hour mark, Daniel was reintroduced at left back, replacing Luke H once again, while Logan returned to lead the attack, taking the place of Mason L.

Despite these efforts, Newcastle East End regained the lead in the 63rd minute with a well-taken goal that ultimately decided the contest. Westerhope pushed forward in search of an equaliser but found it difficult to break down a disciplined Newcastle defence.

The match concluded with Newcastle East End F.C U13 Inter securing a 2-1 victory on Westerhope’s home turf. Westerhope United U13 Gold showed resilience and tactical flexibility throughout, but the early concession and late goal proved decisive. Riley’s defensive performance was a highlight for Westerhope, providing stability at the back amid a challenging encounter.