Southill Stun Radipole in Close Contest

On a brisk afternoon, 10 determined children headed to Radipole for a friendly football match. After a stalemate in the 6-a-side tournament semi-final earlier this year, the team was eager to take to the pitch and put on a strong performance.

Southill quickly adapted to the larger pitch, passing and moving confidently while maintaining possession. Max and Filip dominated in midfield, repeatedly releasing Eli and Noah on the wings, which troubled Radipole early on. Despite heavy pressure, Southill struggled to test the opposition goalkeeper. Both teams defended resolutely, cancelling each other out. Just before halftime, Radipole nearly broke through on goal, but Toby made a crucial tackle to stop their dangerous striker in his tracks. At the break, the game remained goalless.

Despite not scoring in the first half, Southill remained optimistic. We knew that with solid defending, it would only take the right cross or through ball to break the deadlock—and we didn’t have to wait long! Just four minutes into the second half, Noah made a brilliant run down the left wing, jinking past two defenders before delivering a low, powerful cross into the box. The ball landed perfectly at Filip’s feet, and he calmly controlled it before slotting into the bottom right corner. Southill had their well-earned breakthrough!

However, Radipole responded swiftly. A long ball over midfield found their striker, who cleverly used the defender as a shield before firing a shot from outside the box that caught our keeper off-guard, bringing the score level.

Determined to regain the lead, Southill dug deep. After a series of corners and relentless pressure, the team produced one of the best goals I’ve ever seen. The move began with excellent build-up play from Gurraag and Ellis, drawing Radipole up the pitch. Ellis then slotted the ball into midfield, where Max made a driving run through the heart of the opposition. He threaded a superb pass between two center-backs to find Ashton, who expertly lured the goalkeeper off his line before curving the ball around him. Eli was in the perfect position to tap it in from the goal line. A stunning team goal!

Radipole proved a tough opponent, pushing for another equalizer. Southill sought to bury the game with a third goal but had to remain vigilant against counter-attacks. Noah, Maxwell, Toby, Gurraag, and Ellis defended exceptionally well, limiting Radipole to long-range efforts despite the game becoming stretched.

Final Score:

Radipole 1 – 2 Southill

On such a large pitch and in cold conditions, every Southill player was outstanding. Their determination, teamwork, and relentless effort paid off in a brilliant away victory.

A huge thank you to Mr. Frampton, our Southill photographer, for capturing the action. Thank you to the parents and grandparents for transporting the children to Radipole and cheering them on. A big thank you as well to Radipole for hosting and providing such a competitive game of football. Finally, a massive shoutout to #TheMightySPS for their fantastic performance today!

Well done, team!