13/09/2026
⚽ Match Report — 13/09/2026
SDYFL U12 Division 7
Withymoor Colts East 4–1 Old Wulfrunians East
A new season brings new hopes and a chance to get back out on the pitch for some good old-fashioned competitive football.
Pre-season friendlies were all done, and we were looking forward to the lads' first competitive league game. We travelled to Stourbridge to take on Withymoor Colts, a team we've played against in previous seasons.
Unfortunately, we had some bad news to start the day, with Molly unwell and unable to travel. The rest of the boys, however, were keen to get the new season off to a flying start.
First Half
We started sluggishly and soon found ourselves two goals behind. In all fairness, it was no more than Withymoor deserved. They were on the front foot throughout the first half, showing more desire to win the ball and often getting there before we had a chance to react.
To the boys' credit, they did respond towards the end of the half and enjoyed a much more positive spell. Unfortunately, it didn't result in any noteworthy chances, but it certainly gave the parents something to cheer about.
Half-time: Withymoor Colts East 2–0 Old Wulfrunians East
Second Half
The second half started in much the same fashion, with Withymoor continuing to put us under pressure as we struggled to get a foothold in the game.
They soon extended their lead to 4–0, and at that point we were really on the ropes.
But then something changed.
The boys lifted it for the final period of the game. In the last 10 minutes, they shifted through the gears, started winning those important 50/50 balls and began pressing the opposition.
We worked our way further up the pitch and eventually forced Withymoor into conceding a corner.
Mason stepped up and swung the ball into the box — and what happened next was the goal of the game.
He found Thaiyo with the cross, and Thaiyo produced an incredible overhead kick, sending the ball straight into the back of the net!
The first goal of the new season — and it'll take some beating to better that one!
The game finished shortly afterwards, but ending on such a high gives the team something positive to take into training and, more importantly, into next week's game.
🏆 Player of the Match
The parents voted for Sam as their Player of the Match.
While my report may have been critical of our overall performance, Sam was one of the players who definitely left it all out on the pitch. He got stuck in and worked hard, harassing players in both defence and attack. He certainly put in a good shift.
⭐ Managers' Players of the Match
The managers selected Maison and Thaiyo.
Maison was another player who put in a huge amount of graft. That was perfectly demonstrated when he chased down a player who had broken through one-on-one with Joe. Maison came all the way from the halfway line and made the challenge just in time, stopping the player before he had the chance to get a shot away.
A real lung-busting effort.
As for Thaiyo, the goal alone was worthy of a medal! But his contribution went beyond that. He worked hard to help keep the defence tight and the opposition strikers quiet. He was also unlucky not to get back in time on a few occasions to prevent goals.
🔵 Looking Ahead
Next week we're away again, this time at Netherton, giving us another chance to show what we can do.
If we can match the intensity, effort and determination we showed during those final 5–10 minutes of the second half for an entire game, then we won't have much trouble at all.
Plenty to work on in training this week, but also plenty of positives to take from the way the boys finished the game.
Final Score
Withymoor Colts East 4–1 Old Wulfrunians East
⚽ Thaiyo
🅰️ Mason
🏆 Parents' POTM: Sam
⭐ Managers' POTM: Maison & Thaiyo
