14/09/2026
West End Terriers Reserves 5–4 Crofton Sports F.C.
West End Terriers Reserves’ first home game of the season was a local contest against Crofton Sports, and what followed was an entertaining nine-goal thriller.
Terriers started the game brightly and took the lead after a long-range effort ricocheted off the Crofton centre-half and fell kindly for Ben Jennings, who was quick to capitalise and put Terriers 1–0 up.
Midway through the first half, Crofton found an equaliser with a through ball played in behind the Terriers defence. The Crofton attacker calmly slotted the ball past the Terriers’ stand-in goalkeeper to make it 1–1.
As the wind picked up, it began to play into Crofton’s hands and their long-ball tactics, as they looked to bombard the young Terriers defence and box. Crofton then took the lead from a free kick, with a long ball delivered deep into the Terriers box. The Crofton attacker got there ahead of the oncoming goalkeeper and flicked the ball into the open net.
Shortly afterwards, Crofton added a third. Terriers gave the ball away too cheaply in midfield and were punished by an excellent strike from around 25 yards which flew into the bottom corner.
With half-time approaching, Terriers showed some quick thinking and caught Crofton unaware with a ball into the space behind their defence. Ben Jennings raced through and calmly placed the ball past the advancing goalkeeper to pull Terriers back to 2–3.
However, just before half-time, Crofton re-established their two-goal advantage after Terriers again lost possession in midfield. Crofton produced their best move of the game, quickly playing the ball inside the full-back before finishing neatly into the far corner.
Half-time: West End Terriers Reserves 2–4 Crofton Sports
At half-time, Terriers discussed where they could hurt the opposition, particularly by getting at them down the flanks.
Just before the hour mark, Terriers played out from the back, with Ryan finding Leon down the right wing. Leon rode the first challenge, held off the covering defender and reached the byline before picking out Tom Bentley on the edge of the box.
Tom wrapped his weaker foot around the ball on the half-volley and beautifully steered it into the far corner. 2–4 and Terriers were back in the game.
Terriers were now starting to cause Crofton real problems. Ben was threaded through but was unable to convert from an angle.
Again, Terriers attacked down the right, with Ryan delivering a deep throw into the box. Leon hooked the ball into Ashton Jones’ path and Ashton smashed it into the bottom corner to bring Terriers level at 4–4.
Now Terriers had the bit between their teeth.
Shortly afterwards, they could — and probably should — have taken the lead. Another cross to the back post took an awkward bounce, with Ashton only able to head over the crossbar.
Terriers continued to push, and when a long ball from Tesh was not dealt with by the Crofton defence, Ashton raced into the box. He turned the full-back inside out before showing great awareness to pull the ball back to the edge of the box.
Ben Jennings, arriving from deep, met the ball and fired it into the net to complete his hat-trick and send Terriers into a 5–4 lead.
From 2–4 down, the young Terriers had produced a fantastic comeback and showed real character, determination and belief to turn the game around.
Full-time: West End Terriers Reserves 5–4 Crofton Sports F.C.
⚽ Goals:
Ben Jennings x3
Ashton Jones x1
Tom Bentley x1
🏆 Man of the Match: Ben Jennings
A brilliant first home game for the Reserves — nine goals, plenty of drama and, most importantly, three points.
https://youtu.be/kIHhQEroe2k?is=JfjZdu4E1tFNgug2
Report - A.Jones
Next fixture:
Scott FC vs West End Terriers Reserves
