The under-18s made it five wins out of five in the league with another convincing win.
The game began at a high tempo and in the 14th minute, Warminster took a deserved lead. Archie McMahon and Will Morgan combined neatly on the right before Morgan’s cut-back found Oscar Robinson, who calmly finished from close range to open the scoring. (0–1)
Two minutes later, Ashton Watkinson came close to doubling the lead with a curling effort from 20 yards that just cleared the top corner.
At 19 minutes, Sam Allman’s free kick from 30 yards forced a save from the Bradford keeper, but five minutes later he turned provider – cutting in from the left and delivering a looping cross that Robinson met perfectly with a header for his second goal. (0–2)
On 26 minutes, Ashton Watkinson’s clever free kick into the area picked out Allman, but his run was marginally offside.
Matt Hudd went close on 30 minutes, shooting from distance but clearing the bar.
Warminster’s dominance paid off again on 33 minutes: Allman’s corner from the right caused havoc in the box; after two blocked efforts from Hudd and Robinson, Watkinson reacted quickest to slot home. (0–3)
Moments later, Isaac Ponari struck the crossbar from 25 yards, followed quickly by Morgan going close from range.
Bradford reduced the deficit on 38 minutes with a composed finish from their right winger past Toby Wickett. Their goalkeeper was forced off injured a minute later.
Warminster restored their three-goal cushion just before the interval when Ponari switched play to Allman, who squared for Robinson to complete his first-half hat-trick. (1–4)
Warminster started strongly after the break and had several chances before being briefly pegged back on 62 minutes when a quick Bradford throw-in led to a goal from the left-hand side. (2–4).
Warminster hit back; Ryan Philps delivered a superb diagonal aerial ball from the right, perfectly picking out Robinson, who controlled and finished calmly past the keeper for his fourth of the evening. (2–5)
Almost immediately after, a clever throw-in from Sam Bennett found Allman, who took a touch and drilled a precise low finish into the bottom corner. (2–6)
Harrison Griggs making his first League start for the squad replaced Robinson on 71 minutes, the striker leaving the pitch after a great four-goal display.
Bradford made it 3–6 on 73 minutes after a good spell of play, but Wickett produced a brilliant diving save moments later to deny another goal; stretching full-length to his right to push the shot wide.
In the 77th minute, Philps capped his afternoon’s performance with a great long-range strike from an acute left angle that looped into the top-right corner. (3–7)
On 80 minutes, centre-back Emmanuel Sani carried the ball forward with confidence and found Hudd, who finished smartly. (3–8)
Warminster rounded off their dominant display in the 88th minute after a superb team move. Leo Slatford found Philps in midfield, who switched play to Charlie Stone on the right. Stone played inside to Hudd, who flicked the ball back to Philps; his shot was parried by the keeper, and Hudd reacted instantly with a powerful header home for his second goal and Warminster’s ninth. (3–9)
A superb all-round team performance from Warminster Town U18s, highlighted by Oscar Robinson’s four-goal haul and strong attacking contributions from Allman, Morgan, Watkinson, Philps and Hudd.
The coaching team will be thrilled with the creativity, teamwork and clinical edge on display as the U18s continue their strong start to the season.
Player of the Match: Oscar Robinson – a commanding four-goal performance leading the line.
Report: James Stone
