It was a day of mixed emotions for the crowd at Carrington, as a thrilling first half was followed by a much calmer second period until an unexpected twist in the dying minutes of the game.
Going into the interval, the home team had taken control, with a sizeable lead established through some impressive team work. In a bold move, the coach decided to make three changes at halftime, withdrawing Obi-Martin, Daniel Armer, and Jayce Fitzgerald to bring in James Bailey, Albert Mills, and Victor Musa. The substitutions seemed to stem the flow of the game, and the second half was a much more subdued affair. United goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes was kept busy, but all his saves were made with ease and he appeared equal to the task.
As the final 10 minutes ticked down, it seemed as though the game was winding down and the early momentum had been lost. However, one player had other ideas. From outside the box, forward Thwaites expertly lifted a free-kick over the Forest wall and into the very top-left corner of the goal, leaving a diving Willows with no hope of reaching it. The crowd erupted as the young Red’s joy was unconfined, having produced a spectacular all-round display that left onlookers in raptures.
