⚽️ Ball
⚽️⚽️⚽️ Blount
⚽️⚽️ Stanley

🅰️ McNamee
🅰️🅰️🅰️ Ratan-Wright
🅰️ Stanley
🅰️ Hayward

Jacob Blount’s first competitive hat-trick for CSKA Carnabys powered the side to a 6-2 victory at North Kilworth, securing passage to the next round of the Billy Walton Cup while handing debuts to three first-team newcomers.

Archie Ball marked his maiden appearance with a tidy cut-back finish to open the scoring after just 20 minutes, capping a period of sustained pressure built on Shivan Solanki’s determined footwork in the build-up.

CSKA dominated territory and tempo for much of the first half, pinning nine or ten Kilworth players in their own third and repeatedly threatening down the flanks. Occasional home breakaways were snuffed out by an organised back line, with goalkeeper Owen Schofield particularly impressive in one-on-one situations when called upon.

The visitors doubled their lead early in the second period when Tristan Ratan-Wright’s incisive channel run set up Blount for the simplest of finishes, securing his first competitive goal for the club.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, the advantage briefly felt precarious. An overhit cross gifted North Kilworth a lifeline, and a short spell in which momentum swung their way saw them level at 2-2.

CSKA responded emphatically. Relentless possession and high pressing wore the hosts down, epitomised by Pascal Bouttier-Butler’s fierce pursuit of a “nothing ball” into the corner that ultimately led to an injury for a North Kilworth defender. Blount restored the lead with a looping header, then minutes later produced a moment of magic from outside the box to complete his hat-trick with three distinctly different goals.

In midfield, the trio controlled the game with crisp, early passing and intelligent shifts of play, while also cutting out opposition through-balls during transitions.

Ajay Stanley, introduced for the tireless Ball, nearly scored immediately with a long-range effort that skimmed over the bar. He eventually found the net twice from close range: first after Jake Hayward’s gritty hold-up play, then from another brilliant Ratan-Wright cut-back following a superb through pass from Theo Grant.

The performance underscored CSKA’s ability to rotate personnel without losing intensity. Returning defender Amit Patel, making his first first-team appearance in over a year, was particularly impressive, keeping his side of the back three on lockdown throughout.

While the scoreline could have been even more commanding, the management group highlighted the side’s strengths in possession, ball circulation and grinding down opponents as key takeaways, alongside the need to convert more of their final-third opportunities.