Hughenden Valley U13s 1 - 2 Wendover Juniors U13s

Wendover Juniors Youth squad, got their league season off to the perfect start with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at Hughenden Valley on a bright morning that quickly turned humid.

Moving into a more physical division was always going to be a challenge, but the team rose to it brilliantly from the first whistle. Hughenden Valley had some big, strong players and every Wendover player stood up to the test, showing determination, bravery and plenty of character.

Wendover struck first through Edward Bye, who latched on to a long ball by Rajan and breaking quickly, Ed raced clear before finishing confidently to give Wendover an early lead.

Defensively, Wendover were excellent throughout. Megan was her usual reliable self, while Billy, Harley, Robbie produced a superb collective display at the back. Behind them, Sully commanded his area confidently and made a number of smart low saves to keep the home side at bay.
Hughenden Valley levelled from the penalty spot after what looked a harsh decision.

Then disaster struck when a hard challenge was made on Ed and he was forced off, midway through the first half. He had landed badly on his elbow and could not continue. While it rocked the rhythm that Wendover had established, the players produced a gritty and disciplined second-half performance, that saw Harry take a quick pass from Rory and nonchantly struck the ball which went through the keeper's legs. Then stoic defending saw out the game.

The midfield of Rory, Rajan, Harry and Ben covered every blade of grass, while Romi and Erick provided valuable energy and attacking outlets whenever called upon. What stood out most was the team's togetherness. Every player worked for each other, battled for every ball and showed exactly the spirit needed to compete at this level.

Player of the Match: Harley Buck
Harley was outstanding throughout, combining non-stop running with brave heading and commanding defending. Time and again he stepped forward to meet the ball early, helping to lead a resilient defensive performance.

A fantastic start to the season and three well-earned points in the opener. The challenge now is to build on this performance as attention turns to next week's cup fixture.

Well done, Wendover Youth! ⚽