Our Under 23s had a great 6-0 win on Saturday in the Clem Smith Bowl, against Richmond Mavericks, a team from the division above.

Jack Mortimer scored four including a seven minute hat trick, with debutant Alex Payne and Steve Dawson scoring the others. Jack has now scored 29 goals in eleven matches.

Manager Grant Cuthbertson said; “It was a really pleasing performance. We dominated possession from stat to finish and the defence was as strong as ever. It was a fantastic win against higher division opposition.”

The boys started the game in a similar vein to the previous fixtures, keeping the ball really well and moving it side to side. It’s been great to see the development of the team and the chemistry come together, the level of football they’re playing now is really impressive. Thomas Southwood at the back had a top half, continually driving up the pitch and making key passes. The boys created chance after chance primarily against a low block, several saves, hitting the post and missed opportunities made for 0-0 at half time. 

We knew the deadlock would be broken and the message was clear, everything the same but let’s be composed and clinical in front of the net. The second half followed the same pattern until debutant Alex Payne from the first team followed a nicely worked shot from Mortimer for 1-0.

 The U23s’ fitness would really start to come in here as they continued to shift Mavericks players left to right and Mortimer was at the double with two goals in quick succession, vintage left curlers into the corner and the keeper had no chance. Only a few minutes later Jack broke through into the box and was wiped out nastily from behind for a penalty, stepped up and calmly finished for a hat trick within seven minutes.

The fifth goal was a well worked goal, with Will Maddison taking on his man down the wing for a cut back to Mortimer and first time finish, which made it four for Jack.

Stevie Dawson was the definition of work horse, absolutely everywhere on the pitch, and in the last minute of the game he struck well from the edge of the box and a slight deflection carried it in for 6-0. A really significant cup win and into the hat for the next round.

Team: Liam Mason, Ethan Cuthbertson, Thomas Southwood, Owen Harvey, Dylan Helliwell, Oliver Walters, Jack Mortimer, Alex Payne, Stevie Dawson, Will Maddison, Alfie Fawcett

 Subs:
Kayne Williams, Jake Patterson, Owen Smith, Alfie Robinson, Sam Booth, Ethan Mcloughlin, Thomas Martin