There can often appear to be something of the super-natural about watching the Loxwood Lions, given the regularity with which they seem to be able to win football matches from apparently irretrievable positions, when other more ‘normal’ teams' chances might, understandably, be written-off.
There are many examples of this throughout an extensive portfolio of "Great Escapes": up against it and 3-0 down to a sharp-shooting Ashington side, only for the Lions to fight back to win 4-3 with almost the last kick of the game; struggling 2-0 down at half-time away to a very confident Cranleigh team, before ripping the script to shreds to win 3-2; emerging victorious from THAT ferociously competitive encounter with title-rivals Henfield, after trailing 1-0 at half-time, helped by an inspired performance from stand-in goalkeeper Hamish, a perfectly-timed near-post header from Fraser, and a one-on-one classy winning goal from Harry. Even at the tender age of eight, the Lions had already perfected the art of escapology as they emerged triumphant after trailing 2-0 to a fine Dorking Wanderers team courtesy of Teddy's two last-minute curling free-kicks into the top corner of the goal!
The boys will certainly never be stuck for material in future years when explaining to their own children the importance of never giving up!
So to Sunday's thrilling match and the latest addition to their stellar come-back portfolio:
The Lions team for the day was Eron in goal; in defence Daniel, Joe, Tom and Magnus; in midfield Harry, Rory, Fraser and Brodie; up-top Louis played off Ben. On the bench were Josh and Hamish.
Last Sunday’s visitors, AFC Worthing, were a very good team with some very fast and skilful players. On a lush pitch Worthing were up-for-it from the very first whistle and almost immediately created goal-scoring chances that the ever-alert and mobile Eron was able to thwart. The Lions seemed unable to resist the tide of early Worthing attacks though, and on fifteen minutes the Worthing striker broke through the Lions defence to fire home, 0-1. The early pattern of the match continued throughout the half as the Lions midfield was caught too far forward at times, unable to offer sufficient protection to a defensive back-line that struggled to close down space or make effective blocks.
On twenty minutes Tom was replaced by Josh due to injury. Tom deserves full credit as the best Lions player to that point after agreeing to play from the start to help his team, despite his injury. A lion.
A lack of communication and awareness was then ruthlessly punished when - from a simple throw-in - the ball sailed over the heads of the Lions defenders allowing the Worthing striker too much time and space to run through unmarked to score, 0-2!
In response the Lions produced only two half-chances at the other end when, after a great pass from Ben, Harry did not realise he had more time to control the ball before shooting, and then no Lions player was able to apply the finish to another great Harry corner when the ball bounced around loose in the penalty area. Those chances proved to be only a brief respite from more Worthing pressure, and on twenty-five minutes a defensive mix up resulted in an opportunity for another striker to find the Loxwood net, 0-3. The Lions then steeled themselves to battle through the final ten minutes of the half to avoid losing any more goals before the break. Half-time score: 0-3.
At half-time Hamish replaced the hard-working Brodie to add an attacking threat, and Fraser dropped back alongside Joe to add composure and strength to the back-line. Ben moved into midfield and Josh to the right.
As the referee sounded his whistle to start the second-half the magnificent Lions supporters roared their encouragement for the boys to make a contest of the match - and how the boys responded! The Lions were unrecognisable from the meek team of the first-half and the momentum-shift meant that the direction of play was now focused toward the Worthing goal. Where previously there was timid challenges, there was now aggressive 40:60 ball-winning tackles; where there was hesitancy, there was now decisiveness and determination; where there were aimless passes and a lack of control, there was now precision, dexterity and incisive forward passes.
Only five minutes into the half a penetrating pass from midfield sent Hamish clear on goal. His shot was blocked by the goal-keeper but rebounded back to him on the edge of the box. He steadied himself before lobbing the retreating defenders and the recovering keeper only for the ball to brush off the head of a defender. The ball looped up and bounced down on the 6-yard line with defenders ready to hack the ball clear, but Harry reacted fastest to crash the ball home, 1-3. Game on!
The supporters turned up the volume as the the Lions raced back to the centre-line restart the match. The aggression and passion in all the players was palpable as they tore into the Worthing players to win the ball and launch more attacks. Fraser and Joe were now stealing balls from forwards and carrying the ball forward looking for opportunities to create. Rory, Louis and Ben in midfield were all working very hard to close down space and win back lost balls. Magnus too was doing a great job to usher away any danger when it threatened.
Only three minutes later the Lions worked an opening on the right. The ball was crossed into the middle where Hamish was surrounded by defenders. With no time to take the ball down, Hamish opened his body and volleyed the ball first-time into the goal with the side of his boot, 2-3.
High-fives and more roars from the sidelines as the supporters willed the boys to snatch the equaliser. Electric to watch.
The momentum was now all with the Lions as they charged forward in pursuit of more goals. The Worthing players were now struggling to cope with the intensity and ferocity of the Lions. Suddenly they had lost their shape and their ability to control and pass the ball with ease as they did earlier in the match.
Another incisive move down the right sent Josh away; he raced to the goal line before delivering a pin-point cross for the in-form Harry, who stooped low to flick a header brilliantly into the goal, giving the keeper no chance, 3-3. Thunderous cheers now echoed around the pitch as the visitors stood still with the arms out-stretched in utter disbelief at what was happening around them.
It says a lot for the Worthing team that they managed to respond with a flurry of quick opportunities including a striker breaking free of the defence to chip the ball over Eron. As the ball floated over Eron it looked certain to be dropping into the empty goal but the ball hit the under-side of the bar and bounced down on the line. The striker raced to knock it in but Eron somehow managed to beat the striker to the ball by diving on the ball and clutching it to his chest. The striker and Eron ended up in a heap together in the goal-mouth, but when Eron wrestled free and stood up with the ball in his hands the crowd bellowed their relief and delight as thhough we had scored another goal!
Surely the next goal would prove decisive? And with eleven minutes to go the Lions midfield delivered yet another through-ball to release Harry one-on-one. The mind flashed back to that Henfield match in a similar position. Harry was controlled and cool as he drew the keeper, before striking the ball into the left-hand corner of the net: incredibly; unbelievably; super-naturally....it was 4-3 to the Lions!
Harry was swamped by all his team-mates as they dived on him like Eron dived on the ball earlier to create a heaving white mountain of Lions on the pitch. It was perfect celebration really because the Lions had once more climbed an Everest to maintain their position at the summit of the league-table.
Men of the match: All the boys were fantastic in the second half but Eron’s spectacular performance in goal and Hot-shot Harry’s hat-trick means they share the award this week.
THE WINNING LIONS AFTER THE GAME AND GREAT TO SEE FREDDIE SUPPORTING AND NEARLY BACK IN ACTION!
There are many examples of this throughout an extensive portfolio of "Great Escapes": up against it and 3-0 down to a sharp-shooting Ashington side, only for the Lions to fight back to win 4-3 with almost the last kick of the game; struggling 2-0 down at half-time away to a very confident Cranleigh team, before ripping the script to shreds to win 3-2; emerging victorious from THAT ferociously competitive encounter with title-rivals Henfield, after trailing 1-0 at half-time, helped by an inspired performance from stand-in goalkeeper Hamish, a perfectly-timed near-post header from Fraser, and a one-on-one classy winning goal from Harry. Even at the tender age of eight, the Lions had already perfected the art of escapology as they emerged triumphant after trailing 2-0 to a fine Dorking Wanderers team courtesy of Teddy's two last-minute curling free-kicks into the top corner of the goal!
The boys will certainly never be stuck for material in future years when explaining to their own children the importance of never giving up!
So to Sunday's thrilling match and the latest addition to their stellar come-back portfolio:
The Lions team for the day was Eron in goal; in defence Daniel, Joe, Tom and Magnus; in midfield Harry, Rory, Fraser and Brodie; up-top Louis played off Ben. On the bench were Josh and Hamish.
Last Sunday’s visitors, AFC Worthing, were a very good team with some very fast and skilful players. On a lush pitch Worthing were up-for-it from the very first whistle and almost immediately created goal-scoring chances that the ever-alert and mobile Eron was able to thwart. The Lions seemed unable to resist the tide of early Worthing attacks though, and on fifteen minutes the Worthing striker broke through the Lions defence to fire home, 0-1. The early pattern of the match continued throughout the half as the Lions midfield was caught too far forward at times, unable to offer sufficient protection to a defensive back-line that struggled to close down space or make effective blocks.
On twenty minutes Tom was replaced by Josh due to injury. Tom deserves full credit as the best Lions player to that point after agreeing to play from the start to help his team, despite his injury. A lion.
A lack of communication and awareness was then ruthlessly punished when - from a simple throw-in - the ball sailed over the heads of the Lions defenders allowing the Worthing striker too much time and space to run through unmarked to score, 0-2!
In response the Lions produced only two half-chances at the other end when, after a great pass from Ben, Harry did not realise he had more time to control the ball before shooting, and then no Lions player was able to apply the finish to another great Harry corner when the ball bounced around loose in the penalty area. Those chances proved to be only a brief respite from more Worthing pressure, and on twenty-five minutes a defensive mix up resulted in an opportunity for another striker to find the Loxwood net, 0-3. The Lions then steeled themselves to battle through the final ten minutes of the half to avoid losing any more goals before the break. Half-time score: 0-3.
At half-time Hamish replaced the hard-working Brodie to add an attacking threat, and Fraser dropped back alongside Joe to add composure and strength to the back-line. Ben moved into midfield and Josh to the right.
As the referee sounded his whistle to start the second-half the magnificent Lions supporters roared their encouragement for the boys to make a contest of the match - and how the boys responded! The Lions were unrecognisable from the meek team of the first-half and the momentum-shift meant that the direction of play was now focused toward the Worthing goal. Where previously there was timid challenges, there was now aggressive 40:60 ball-winning tackles; where there was hesitancy, there was now decisiveness and determination; where there were aimless passes and a lack of control, there was now precision, dexterity and incisive forward passes.
Only five minutes into the half a penetrating pass from midfield sent Hamish clear on goal. His shot was blocked by the goal-keeper but rebounded back to him on the edge of the box. He steadied himself before lobbing the retreating defenders and the recovering keeper only for the ball to brush off the head of a defender. The ball looped up and bounced down on the 6-yard line with defenders ready to hack the ball clear, but Harry reacted fastest to crash the ball home, 1-3. Game on!
The supporters turned up the volume as the the Lions raced back to the centre-line restart the match. The aggression and passion in all the players was palpable as they tore into the Worthing players to win the ball and launch more attacks. Fraser and Joe were now stealing balls from forwards and carrying the ball forward looking for opportunities to create. Rory, Louis and Ben in midfield were all working very hard to close down space and win back lost balls. Magnus too was doing a great job to usher away any danger when it threatened.
Only three minutes later the Lions worked an opening on the right. The ball was crossed into the middle where Hamish was surrounded by defenders. With no time to take the ball down, Hamish opened his body and volleyed the ball first-time into the goal with the side of his boot, 2-3.
High-fives and more roars from the sidelines as the supporters willed the boys to snatch the equaliser. Electric to watch.
The momentum was now all with the Lions as they charged forward in pursuit of more goals. The Worthing players were now struggling to cope with the intensity and ferocity of the Lions. Suddenly they had lost their shape and their ability to control and pass the ball with ease as they did earlier in the match.
Another incisive move down the right sent Josh away; he raced to the goal line before delivering a pin-point cross for the in-form Harry, who stooped low to flick a header brilliantly into the goal, giving the keeper no chance, 3-3. Thunderous cheers now echoed around the pitch as the visitors stood still with the arms out-stretched in utter disbelief at what was happening around them.
It says a lot for the Worthing team that they managed to respond with a flurry of quick opportunities including a striker breaking free of the defence to chip the ball over Eron. As the ball floated over Eron it looked certain to be dropping into the empty goal but the ball hit the under-side of the bar and bounced down on the line. The striker raced to knock it in but Eron somehow managed to beat the striker to the ball by diving on the ball and clutching it to his chest. The striker and Eron ended up in a heap together in the goal-mouth, but when Eron wrestled free and stood up with the ball in his hands the crowd bellowed their relief and delight as thhough we had scored another goal!
Surely the next goal would prove decisive? And with eleven minutes to go the Lions midfield delivered yet another through-ball to release Harry one-on-one. The mind flashed back to that Henfield match in a similar position. Harry was controlled and cool as he drew the keeper, before striking the ball into the left-hand corner of the net: incredibly; unbelievably; super-naturally....it was 4-3 to the Lions!
Harry was swamped by all his team-mates as they dived on him like Eron dived on the ball earlier to create a heaving white mountain of Lions on the pitch. It was perfect celebration really because the Lions had once more climbed an Everest to maintain their position at the summit of the league-table.
Men of the match: All the boys were fantastic in the second half but Eron’s spectacular performance in goal and Hot-shot Harry’s hat-trick means they share the award this week.
THE WINNING LIONS AFTER THE GAME AND GREAT TO SEE FREDDIE SUPPORTING AND NEARLY BACK IN ACTION!
