Wigan Borough Minotaurs vs Boothstown Bulldogs
2 - 4
06 September 2025 · Bolton, Bury and District Football League<br>U11 ORANGE
Home league match played on 06 September 2025.
Kicked off at 11:30 AM
2-4
vs Boothstown Bulldogs
Home league match
Match Report – Saturday 6th September 2025
Wigan Borough Minotaurs vs Boothstown Bulldogs U11
Venue: Astley, Manchester – Kick-off 11:30am
Wigan Borough Minotaurs kicked off their 2025/26 campaign at home to Boothstown Bulldogs in front of around 100 spectators. With only nine players available, the Minotaurs knew they faced an uphill battle in this 9-a-side league fixture – no substitutes, no rest, just pure determination. Despite the disadvantage, the boys fought valiantly but ultimately slipped to a 4–2 defeat after a gruelling 60 minutes.
The Minotaurs lined up in a 4-2-2 formation:
Goalkeeper: Dominic Naylor – marshalled his box bravely, making several key saves to keep his side in the contest. Showed real leadership shouting instructions to an overworked defence.
Defence: Vinny Derricott at right back battled tirelessly to track Boothstown’s runners; Isaac Sharratt and Hugo Whatton held the middle, with Hugo in particular excelling with crunching tackles and calm clearances (earning Player of the Match); Vinny Fillingham at left back got stuck in and covered plenty of ground despite the pressure down his flank.
Midfield: Asa Ashurst and Noah Pilling ran themselves into the ground, covering both ends of the pitch. Asa’s vision picked out passes to relieve pressure, while Noah grabbed a deserved goal from distance, showing his quality.
Attack: Jacob Saxon was a constant threat on the right, scoring a superb strike from outside the box to level the scores early on. Matthew Jalloh worked hard on the left, linking play and assisting Jacob’s goal with clever footwork.
The Minotaurs showed great character to come from behind twice in the first half. After Boothstown’s early opener, Jacob Saxon hit back with a fine drive, before Noah Pilling smashed home after being teed up by Asa Ashurst. The 2-2 half-time scoreline reflected the Minotaurs’ spirit, with every player giving absolutely everything.
However, with no fresh legs to call upon, tiredness inevitably crept in as the second half wore on. Boothstown’s substitutes made the difference, and as gaps opened up, the Bulldogs struck twice more inside the box to secure a 4-2 win.
For the Minotaurs, the performance showed plenty of promise but also lessons to learn – not just in fitness, but also in the discipline required to keep shape under pressure. With only nine players, every lapse was magnified. Still, the team can be proud of the fight shown, and with a fuller squad in future weeks, there’s every reason to believe results will soon turn their way.
Final Score: Wigan Borough Minotaurs 2–4 Boothstown Bulldogs U11
Scorers: Saxon (10’), Pilling (22’)
Player of the Match: Hugo Whatton – immense in defence.