Match Report

The Season has started and the growler has awakened.

After a fully loaded pre-season fixture list the team were ready for the start of the season with our first opponents being Kingshurst Exiles.

With it being our first competitive game of the season the team were unsure on our opponents style of play but regardless, we play the Growler way. A very strong starting 11 with a star studded bench meant it was a recipe for success.

Growler came out like a pack of greyhounds — fast, aggressive, and absolutely relentless. From the first whistle, they pressed high, passed crisply, and created chance after chance. It was football poetry if the poem was written by someone who kept missing rhymes.

Max Preston, the team’s talismanic striker, had the best chance early on with a glorious one-on-one with the keeper. He rounded the defender, took aim, and hit the post. The sound echoed like a sad trombone, might have had too many pints the night before.

Despite the missed opportunities, Growler’s persistence paid off. Isaac Fellows broke the deadlock with a tidy finish, assisted by Layton Breedon, who threaded the ball through like he was sewing a quilt. 1–0 to Growler and the crowd erupted.

Half time Growler 1-0 up. The message at the break was simple: keep the intensity, keep the chances coming and hit the bloody target. Gaffer Morgans motivational speech was one that added fuel to the teams belly's.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first — Growler FC dominating, Kingshurst chasing shadows, and the ball refusing to go in… until it did.

Cal Lee channelling his inner Roy Keane screamed at the team to stand on the back post, His voice could’ve registered on the Richter scale. Layton popped up at the back post and tapped in the ball like he’d been waiting there all his life. Assist by Shea Brennan, who floated the ball in like a rubber dingy rapid.

Moments later, Layton found himself one-on-one with the keeper. He dribbled past with elegance, the goal gaping and he missed. Wide. Very wide. So bad that he has a lost ball fine from the board. It was a miss so dramatic it earned comparisons to Fernando Torres, Chelsea Torres not Liverpool.

But redemption was swift. Layton scored again with a composed finish assisted by Miles, who had quietly been pulling strings like a footballing puppeteer.

Growler’s fourth came from a sublime free-kick by left-back Sam Green, an attempted cross that found it's way in the back of the net - Some finish. The free-kick was won by Miles, who was fouled after dancing through midfield.

Then came the moment. Layton, on for a hat-trick, was hacked down in the box. The ref pointed to the spot. Layton stepped up, the crowd held its breath… And he sent the ball so far wide it may have entered orbit.

Enter Wadams, who arrived five minutes into the game with a fag in hand and the swagger of a man who’d knew he would cook. Subbed on late, he made an instant impact. A brilliant ball from Layton found him in space. His first shot was deflected by the keeper, but Wadams — fuelled by nicotine, substances from Saturday night and sheer willpower slotted the rebound in from an impossible angle. It is his first goal for the club, and the fans went wild. Wadams is now being considered for sainthood.

While the attackers were busy trying to break the net (or miss it entirely) the Growler back four were putting on a clinic in defensive discipline. Sam, Alf, Shea and Dunny cold as ice not allowing our opponents a sniff at the goal. Max Green and debutant German came off the bench to inject fresh energy. They slotted in seamlessly, keeping the clean sheet intact and showing how strong Growler’s defensive depth is.

Another thing to note is that if football matches are won in the midfield, then Growler FC didn’t just win, they threw a party in the centre of the park and didn’t invite Kingshurst. Together, Cal and Will formed a midfield duo that could’ve held their own in the Championship or at least made the Kingshurst midfield wish they’d stayed in bed.

When fresh legs were needed, Miles and Elliot came off the bench and didn’t just maintain the standard — they raised it. Miles, with feet quicker than a NASA's Wi-Fi connection, embarrassed the opposition with some dazzling footwork. Elliot, meanwhile, brought the kind of gritty determination that every team needs. A solid shithouse in the best possible way.

Our Man of the Match for the game is Shea Brennan for his quality leadership, consistent defensive efforts, and grabbing an assist as a centre-back, Shea takes the honours. A performance that had everything — grit, brains, and a touch of flair.

Growler delivered a performance that was dominant, entertaining, and full of character. The 5–0 scoreline was well-earned, and the team showed they’re not just here to win — they’re here to entertain. With a back four that could guard Fort Knox and a bench full of impact players, the future looks bright.

MOTM: Shea Brennan

DOTD: Layton Breedon