A Tale of Two Halves

13/09/2025

Match Recap: Tunley AFC 0 - 4 Cheddar Reserves

Tunley came out strong, creating pressure from the opening whistle. An early header from a corner rattled the crossbar, a cruel bounce that kept the score level. Minutes later, another sliding chance flashed just wide, showing Tunley’s intent to strike early.

At the other end, goalkeeper Ryan Edmunds kept the back line steady, producing a superb stop in the 13th minute to deny a Cheddar forward through on goal. Soon after, Tunley thought they had their breakthrough, only for the flag to go up for offside on a call that drew plenty of debate from the touchline, and replay seemed to back up their protests.

Defensively, Tunley looked organised against set pieces throughout the first half, clearing their lines with authority, though there were moments when Cheddar looked dangerous on the counter. Edmunds was called upon again around the half-hour mark and delivered another fine save to preserve the clean sheet.

The half ended with frustration for the home side. In the 39th minute a Tunley player went down in the box, but the referee waved play on. Just before the break Tunley found the net again, only for another offside flag to deny them in the 44th. It was a strong first half for Tunley, full of energy and chances, but without reward.

The second half told a different story. The tempo grew scrappy, early, as a series of hard fouls perhaps disrupted Tunley’s rhythm. A Cheddar free kick from deep in the defensive zone swung momentum sharply, in the 48th minute, leading to a cross and composed finish that put the visitors in front.

Tunley nearly answered straight away when Josh Tyler broke through the defence, but his low effort was brilliantly saved. From there, Cheddar began to dictate the chances. They went close with a header in the 53rd minute and again from distance in the 62nd, piling pressure on the Tunley defence.

The breakthrough came again in the 65th, when a Cheddar forward slipped behind the back line and tucked his shot into the lower left corner for 2–0. Moments later, an uncharacteristic misplay on a cross allowed a straightforward third, and only the crossbar spared Tunley from conceding again in the 75th. But Cheddar pressed on, and in the 78th minute a looping header from deep in 18-yard box made it 4–0.

Tunley kept battling, nearly pulling one back on a late breakaway, but the Cheddar goalkeeper came out bravely with a sliding challenge to preserve the clean sheet.

Final Score: Cheddar 4 – Tunley 0