The complete 14 man squad of the Under 9s were divided into two teams in a 3 x 20 minute session game against Oxford.

The contest started very encouragingly when Eloise Hayward calmly slotted home to give the representative team a 1- 0 lead.  As the game progressed the Oxford side started to have greater possession of the ball and placed the rep side's defence under increasing pressure.  It was not all one way traffic with quick counter attacks prompted by Cameron Liffen and Joe Tyson. Despite the brave and goalkeeping of Joe Smith and the last ditched tackles of Toby Kutassy and Finley Thompson they eventually scored the equalising goal after a quick breakaway from defence.

Very soon afterwards the Oxford team scored again to take a 2 - 1 lead at the end of the first session.  In the second session we welcomed Liam Bint, Thomas Dearsley and Harrison Lea who were making their first appearances for the rep's side.  Although the Oxford side dominated proceeedings in the second session it is to the credit of the North Wilts team that they continued to batttle and did not allow their heads to drop despite conceding two more goals.

Particular credit must go to Liam Bint who made some very good saves in his first appearance in goal.  In the final session both teams played for 10 minutes each.  By now tiredness was setting in and it was no surprise when Oxford netted two more goals.  Taking into account that this was only the second match where the boys had played together they are to be praised for the battling attitude they displayed and the sporting manner in which they played the game.

In this their first match the North Wilts Under 9s team put on a battling performance against a slick passing Swindon Town Centre of Excellence team.

Although under pressure for considerable periods in the match the defence and midfield worked tirelessly to keep the Swindon team at bay. Joe Smith in goal made several outstanding saves while Toby Kutassy and Brandon McGinn made last ditched tackles to stop Swindon from scoring.

It was not all one way traffic with the industrious midfield of Harvey Jupp, Cameron Liffen, Oliver Jones, Finlay Merchant, and Finlay Thompson setting up quick counter attacks. In attack Joe Tyson always looked threatening with his penetrating runs deep into the Swindon defence.

A measure of the improvement made during the game by the North Wilts team is that at half-time they were losing 3 – 0, but managed to draw the second half 1 – 1.

Although the North Wilts rep side was beaten by a very good Swindon side, the best goal of the game was arguably scored by Ryan Harris who broke quickly from defence to slot the ball calmly past the Swindon keeper.