Lowestoft Town U19's were on the road today visiting Aveley FC. This was the young Blues first game of 2025 with the group hoping for plenty of success this calendar year. Aveley FC were the hosts today who are consistently a top team in the National Youth Alliance division. The home side have one of the nicest facilities in the non-league pyramid with a brand new 4G pitch laid just this summer. Five changes were made to the Lowestoft side that ended 2024 with Ben Atkinson, Bailey Sutton, Luca Upton, Archy Gore & Fletcher Littlechild coming into the line-up.

The Young Trawlerboys got off to a terrible start at the Parkside Stadium, going a goal down within 17 seconds when Elijah Grant broke free and slotted calmly into the corner of the net. A stunned Lowestoft responded well to the early setback and grabbed the equaliser after 8 minutes through Atkinson. An excellent team goal that was worked back to front through Kemp, Littlechild, & Lee before Upton sliding Atkinson in to finish beyond the Aveley goalkeeper. Lowestoft continued to threaten and took the lead on the 12th minute when Wooldridge found Atkinson in the box who unselfishly laid the ball into the path of Gore to finish well. The lead was only held for 90 seconds when a long ball from the Aveley centre-back caused confusion within the Lowestoft back-line, allowing Elijah Grant to grab his second goal of the game and Aveley's equaliser. A frantic start to the game with four goals within the first 15 minutes and although Lowestoft had looked the better side, Elijah Grant was causing a constant threat for the hosts. The away side regained the lead just before the half hour mark when Upton worked the ball down the left to Lockwood who delivered an excellent cross for Lee to head in from six yards. This time the lead lasted four minutes when Aveley won a penalty kick after some nice play on the right hand side. It was that man Elijah Grant who stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to complete his hattrick. It looked as if both teams were going into half time equal until Lowestoft won a corner kick with two minutes to go. Wooldridge delivered a delightful cross which was met with a towering header from Littlechild to regain the lead for the visitors. HALF TIME 3-4. A thrilling first half with seven goals and some really nice football on show. Lowestoft knew they could go onto score more goals with their attacking threat however had to be mindful of dangerman Elijah Grant in the second half.

The second half started at Parkside with the young Blues continuing to look the more threatening side with some early chances created coming to no avail. The next goal eventually came for the away side when Howell found Atkinson who slid Wooldridge through to curl around the onrushing goalkeeper. This was the first time the young Trawlerboys had extended the lead to two goals and seemed to compose them further. Gooch was introduced from the Lowestoft bench on the hour mark and instantly came into the action when he was pulled down in a goal scoring opportunity. The referee saw no other choice but to send the Aveley centre back off which saw them go down to ten men with under a third of the game still to play. It was Gooch who then added the sixth goal for Lowestoft. Wooldridge found Upton on the left who after some nice work delivered an outstanding cross that Gooch headed in at the back post. The young Blues were in total control of this match now and looked to be playing with real confidence. After some heavy pressure, the seventh and final goal of the game fell to Lee when Dixon hassled the ball off the Aveley goalkeeper leaving Lee the job of finding the empty net from inside the box. FULL TIME 3-7.

The young Trawlerboys come out on top at Aveley in a high scoring thriller. The win takes them two points off second place with fourteen points from their opening eight matches. Man of the match for today was awarded to Toby Wooldridge who went into a new position and strived. Alongside his goal and assist, Toby was a part of many Lowestoft attacks whilst understanding the wider role he had in this fixture. The squad will review the performance later in the week before looking towards next weeks big home clash with league leaders Southend United. A win for the young Trawlerboys would see them go second and within two points of the Essex side.