After a run of seven winning league matches, the Lions welcomed Felpham to Loxwood’s home ground, The Nest for the final league match before a well-deserved Christmas break. The challenge for the Lions was to try to maintain the winning run until the break against a confident Felpham side who were buoyed by a great away win the previous week at Bognor Regis.
Unsurprisingly more rain had fallen during the night, and again just prior to the match, which once again made for a very slick surface for the boys. Most other pitches would probably have taken a jet-ski, never mind a full stud, but our pitch, though soft, again stood up very well.
The match-day squad was Eron; Daniel, Rory, Joe and Mags; Harry, Freddie Louis, Fraser and Ben; Hamish, and Josh.
It was the visitors that started more brightly as the Lions soaked up early pressure and played themselves into the game. The Felpham play was punctuated by fast counter-attacks from the Lions with some superb, flowing passing moves which cut though the Felpham defence. It was Felpham, though, who struck first from a corner. The Lions did not deal with the corner initially, and then failed to react quick enough to the second ball, allowing the Felpham striker to fire home from close range. The loud celebrations were an indication of how motivated the visitors were to win the game. Game on.
The Lions realised they would need to match the desire and the commitment of their opponents to fight their way back into the match, and certainly to be able to maintain their perfect league record. Within minutes a fast Lions break resulted in Freddie shooting just wide, and then Harry too. At the other end Rory and Joe were terrific breaking up play and launching attacks, and Mags and Daniel were firing balls forward to maintain momentum.
On 15 miunutes Hamish dropped deep to pick up the ball, and delivered a through-ball between defenders for Freddie to run onto from the left. In five strides Freddie was clear bearing down on goal, and he then fired low beyond the advancing keeper, 1-1. Even louder cheers from the home support..
Five minutes later Joe advanced onto the ball to launch a thumping 30 yard drive, forcing the keeper to make a finger-tip save over the bar. Great effort. And Joe was in the mood to entertain as two minutes later he then back-flicked a ball to a team-mate on the edge of the opposition box.
By now the midfield of Louis, Fraser and Harry, with Ben and Freddie wide, were increasingly taking control of midfield, winning possession, and playing smart passes forward. Players were moving well, finding space and Freddie was stretching play, beating players and flashing balls in from the left. On the right Ben was driving forward and threatening with the ball to maintain the pressure on the visitors. On 26 minutes the Lions gained a throw from another attack down the right. Louis’s throw reached Hamish, who swivelled, and hit a rising half-volley into the top right hand corner of the goal, 2-1 to the Lions.
In the final 10 minutes of the half, with the supporters tucking in to mince pies and mulled wine on the touchline, Josh joined the action and played some terrific passes; Eron made some terrific clearances and then showed his sharp awareness in making a magnificent block on the edge of his area to deny an onrushing striker (winning a free-kick too, as he was first to the ball); he then made two more solid saves from distance, to ensure that the Lions reached half-time in front.
The second half started with Lions dominating possession but Felpham were also pressing for an equaliser from occasional breaks forward. From one of those breaks they forced another corner on the left. The ball was delivered into the 6-yard box, which the Lions only half cleared; the ball was again allowed to bounce loose, and the Felpham striker reacted quickest to nudge the ball home, 2-2 to the delight of the visitors, and the match once again in the balance.
The Lions were now faced with the prospect of chasing a winner in the final 20 minutes. The home support responded by roaring the Lions on as they chased a winning goal.
The Lions surged forward with wave after wave of attacks. Harry, Freddie and Ben skipped past players to open up play, and Fraser and Louis drove forward from central positions to win the ball and keep the pressure on.
At the back Magnus thundered into a 50/50 tackle to send the Felpham player reeling backward, demonstrating the Lions’ absolute commitment to not yield. Josh probed on the right playing good passes to Ben who continued to roar forward. In the middle Rory and Joe were very solid forcing Felpham back.
Freddie now was dancing past players before delivering crosses, and with 10 minutes to go another snaking run took him clear of two defenders; he then cut inside a third defender who reacted slower than the ball and Freddie won the foul and the penalty! Hamish then stepped up to send the ball past the keeper to celebrator cheers from the boys and the sidelines. 3-2 to the Lions.
Could the Lions hold out?
Back came Felpham with a flowing move down their right allowing the Felpham striker to step inside toward the D before hitting a fabulous curling shot with his left foot which was heading just inside the far left bottom corner (exactly like KDB’s against Arsenal hours later, but because Eron is better than the Arsenal keeper, Eron read it, quickly moved his feet, then dived sharply to make a brilliant low save, tipping the ball round the post with a full hand which deservedly won terrific applause from all who witnessed it). Fabulous football all round!
At the other end Freddie then hit a high looping shot which smashed off the bar, and then another great shot which the keeper saved well with his legs, and then Louis, who was now rampaging through midfield winning tackles and driving past players, then unleashed a brutal drive from the right corner of the box which the keeper did brilliantly to tip over the bar..
The referee blew for full-time and the Lions has achieved 8 league wins from 8 to sit proudly at the top of the table with 24 points to set up a fantastically exciting second half of the season which promises lots more hard work (dealing with corners and second balls) and more thrilling matches...
Well done to both Felpham and Loxwood for a well-fought, rip-roaring, exhilarating match; and a perfect way to build up to Christmas! Festive football...you gotta love it!
Player of the Match: All the boys were terrific and made a great contribution to the match with very honourable mentions to Joe and Rory in defence, Mags for that tackle, and Louis for his tireless endeavour in midfield, but this week’s PoM award goes to Freddie in his first full match back, who was a constant threat throughout, topped off by great passes, a super goal and winning the decisive penalty..
Unsurprisingly more rain had fallen during the night, and again just prior to the match, which once again made for a very slick surface for the boys. Most other pitches would probably have taken a jet-ski, never mind a full stud, but our pitch, though soft, again stood up very well.
The match-day squad was Eron; Daniel, Rory, Joe and Mags; Harry, Freddie Louis, Fraser and Ben; Hamish, and Josh.
It was the visitors that started more brightly as the Lions soaked up early pressure and played themselves into the game. The Felpham play was punctuated by fast counter-attacks from the Lions with some superb, flowing passing moves which cut though the Felpham defence. It was Felpham, though, who struck first from a corner. The Lions did not deal with the corner initially, and then failed to react quick enough to the second ball, allowing the Felpham striker to fire home from close range. The loud celebrations were an indication of how motivated the visitors were to win the game. Game on.
The Lions realised they would need to match the desire and the commitment of their opponents to fight their way back into the match, and certainly to be able to maintain their perfect league record. Within minutes a fast Lions break resulted in Freddie shooting just wide, and then Harry too. At the other end Rory and Joe were terrific breaking up play and launching attacks, and Mags and Daniel were firing balls forward to maintain momentum.
On 15 miunutes Hamish dropped deep to pick up the ball, and delivered a through-ball between defenders for Freddie to run onto from the left. In five strides Freddie was clear bearing down on goal, and he then fired low beyond the advancing keeper, 1-1. Even louder cheers from the home support..
Five minutes later Joe advanced onto the ball to launch a thumping 30 yard drive, forcing the keeper to make a finger-tip save over the bar. Great effort. And Joe was in the mood to entertain as two minutes later he then back-flicked a ball to a team-mate on the edge of the opposition box.
By now the midfield of Louis, Fraser and Harry, with Ben and Freddie wide, were increasingly taking control of midfield, winning possession, and playing smart passes forward. Players were moving well, finding space and Freddie was stretching play, beating players and flashing balls in from the left. On the right Ben was driving forward and threatening with the ball to maintain the pressure on the visitors. On 26 minutes the Lions gained a throw from another attack down the right. Louis’s throw reached Hamish, who swivelled, and hit a rising half-volley into the top right hand corner of the goal, 2-1 to the Lions.
In the final 10 minutes of the half, with the supporters tucking in to mince pies and mulled wine on the touchline, Josh joined the action and played some terrific passes; Eron made some terrific clearances and then showed his sharp awareness in making a magnificent block on the edge of his area to deny an onrushing striker (winning a free-kick too, as he was first to the ball); he then made two more solid saves from distance, to ensure that the Lions reached half-time in front.
The second half started with Lions dominating possession but Felpham were also pressing for an equaliser from occasional breaks forward. From one of those breaks they forced another corner on the left. The ball was delivered into the 6-yard box, which the Lions only half cleared; the ball was again allowed to bounce loose, and the Felpham striker reacted quickest to nudge the ball home, 2-2 to the delight of the visitors, and the match once again in the balance.
The Lions were now faced with the prospect of chasing a winner in the final 20 minutes. The home support responded by roaring the Lions on as they chased a winning goal.
The Lions surged forward with wave after wave of attacks. Harry, Freddie and Ben skipped past players to open up play, and Fraser and Louis drove forward from central positions to win the ball and keep the pressure on.
At the back Magnus thundered into a 50/50 tackle to send the Felpham player reeling backward, demonstrating the Lions’ absolute commitment to not yield. Josh probed on the right playing good passes to Ben who continued to roar forward. In the middle Rory and Joe were very solid forcing Felpham back.
Freddie now was dancing past players before delivering crosses, and with 10 minutes to go another snaking run took him clear of two defenders; he then cut inside a third defender who reacted slower than the ball and Freddie won the foul and the penalty! Hamish then stepped up to send the ball past the keeper to celebrator cheers from the boys and the sidelines. 3-2 to the Lions.
Could the Lions hold out?
Back came Felpham with a flowing move down their right allowing the Felpham striker to step inside toward the D before hitting a fabulous curling shot with his left foot which was heading just inside the far left bottom corner (exactly like KDB’s against Arsenal hours later, but because Eron is better than the Arsenal keeper, Eron read it, quickly moved his feet, then dived sharply to make a brilliant low save, tipping the ball round the post with a full hand which deservedly won terrific applause from all who witnessed it). Fabulous football all round!
At the other end Freddie then hit a high looping shot which smashed off the bar, and then another great shot which the keeper saved well with his legs, and then Louis, who was now rampaging through midfield winning tackles and driving past players, then unleashed a brutal drive from the right corner of the box which the keeper did brilliantly to tip over the bar..
The referee blew for full-time and the Lions has achieved 8 league wins from 8 to sit proudly at the top of the table with 24 points to set up a fantastically exciting second half of the season which promises lots more hard work (dealing with corners and second balls) and more thrilling matches...
Well done to both Felpham and Loxwood for a well-fought, rip-roaring, exhilarating match; and a perfect way to build up to Christmas! Festive football...you gotta love it!
Player of the Match: All the boys were terrific and made a great contribution to the match with very honourable mentions to Joe and Rory in defence, Mags for that tackle, and Louis for his tireless endeavour in midfield, but this week’s PoM award goes to Freddie in his first full match back, who was a constant threat throughout, topped off by great passes, a super goal and winning the decisive penalty..
