30/08/2026
Queensway 3–2 JCU Development
Changing rooms, dummy-spitting and a late winner
It started, as all well-organised footballing operations do, with us turning up at KBA to make use of their changing rooms… only to discover that JCU had moved the match to John Lowther.
Excellent.
After a hasty relocation, minimal warm-up and a squad missing a few key players, we were ready to go. With CB Matti stepping into goal and the gaffer dusting off his boots for what is likely to be his first — and probably only — 90-minute appearance of the season, Queensway took to the pitch.
And what followed was, shall we say, eventful.
JCU spent large portions of the game seemingly losing their heads, with dummies being spat out left, right and centre. There were so many scattered around the pitch that at times we felt less like a football team and more like a very poorly paid clean-up crew, regularly having to wade through them or pick them up on JCU’s behalf.
The football itself was also accompanied by some particularly dirty challenges, and unfortunately the game was further marred by a tirade of racist comments directed at our players throughout the match. There is absolutely no place for that in football, and it deserves to be called out for what it was.
Still, Queensway kept their heads and got on with the football.
1–0 — Daniel opens the gates
We didn’t have to wait long for the opener.
A brilliant ball from the back line found its way down the right wing, where Daniel picked it up in a ridiculously tight angle. He proceeded to sit the keeper down before calmly slotting the ball home.
1–0 Queensway.
Daniel has now opened the goal-scoring gates. We can only apologise to future opponents.
1–1 — JCU respond
JCU fought their way back into the game, managing to string together a few decent passes before finding their striker through on goal.
One or two people suggested he may have been offside.
We’ll leave that one there.
One-on-one with Matti, he made no mistake and brought JCU level.
1–1.
2–1 — JCU turn it around
Having found their rhythm, JCU struck again in quick succession.
A ball fell kindly in their favour, allowing them to narrowly beat our back line before finding the bottom-right corner.
Matti deserves credit for reading it perfectly and going the right way — unfortunately, his arms didn’t quite come with the required extension package.
2–1 JCU.
But this Queensway side has developed a rather strange habit.
We take the lead early, somehow give it away before half-time, and then decide that losing isn’t actually acceptable after all.
So the fightback began.
2–2 — TJ announces himself
New boy TJ showed exactly what he’s capable of, tearing down the left wing with a turn of pace that left the JCU defenders reconsidering their career choices.
Linking up brilliantly with Jack, TJ escaped the RB and CB who were desperately trying to keep up before producing a clinical finish.
2–2.
Welcome to Queensway, TJ.
Courtney and Jack both came close to adding another, while Sam had two attempts from free kicks on the edge of the box. JCU defended well, but their keeper was certainly earning his wages as the pressure mounted.
3–2 — Harry seals it
With ten minutes remaining, Queensway decided enough was enough.
In the 80th minute, Harry found himself in exactly the right place at exactly the right time and calmly added another to the tally.
3–2 Queensway.
Game management? Questionable.
Entertainment value? Outstanding.
Result? That’s all that matters.
The gloves come off… literally
As the game entered its final stages, JCU appeared to decide that if they couldn’t catch certain Queensway players on the football pitch, perhaps they could try their hand at another sport.
Boxing.
Presumably to compensate for the footballing deficit, physical punches were thrown at Queensway players after they had been beaten and outpaced.
We’re fairly confident that’s not covered under the FA’s definition of a tackle.
Thankfully, Queensway kept their composure, saw the game out and took all three points.
⭐ MOTM — Raph
Our Man of the Match goes to another new addition, Raph, who was an absolute machine at CB.
He didn’t let much past him all afternoon, putting in some pivotal clearances and producing some lovely long balls over the top and through some seriously tight gaps to release the forwards.
The season ahead -
What a difference a bit of confidence and teamwork can make.
It may have taken us a season to properly find our rhythm, but something has clearly clicked with this group. The communication is improving, the football is improving and, most importantly, we’re starting to believe we can win these games even when things don’t go our way.
The new season is already looking exciting.
Three goals. Another win. A new-look squad finding its feet.
Great effort from all the lads. Up the Queensway 💙⚽
