After being knocked off the top of the league due to playing less league fixtures than other teams around them, Sunday’s match represented a great opportunity for the Lions to go back to the top of the table if they could overcome a very good Littlehampton Town side, who were the latest visitors to Loxwood. Team for the day: Eron; Rory, Joe, Magnus and Fraser at the back; Harry, Ted, Max, Louis and Ben in the middle; Hamish up top; and Brodie, Tom L and Josh.
Despite the incentive of a chance to go back top of the table, Loxwood started the match in second gear, frequently caught in possession and slower to the second ball than their hungrier opponents. Littlehampton were also very keen to test Eron early on, firing numerous shots from outside the penalty area. Eron was again very solid behind the ball, either gathering the ball into his chest or pushing the ball away from goal, as he did spectacularly with a low flashing drive to his left.
Eventually after ten minutes Loxwood gradually came more into the game, but still the Lions were not winning many 50/50 challenges and were still too slow to second and third balls in the middle of the park. In the middle Joe was winning balls in the air as an example to players around him, and Rory was excellent in closing down attacks down the right to win balls and drive forward. With Magnus solid on the left side and Fraser starting to carry the ball out of defence Loxwood began to come more into the game.
A great move down the left involving Harry and Max resulted in Loxwood’s first real chance of the match, which the Littlehampton keeper did well to save at his near post. The Loxwood midfield were slowly beginning to create openings and play more in the opposition half, but they often struggled for width which made the midfield more congested and harder for players in possession to thread penetrating passes beyond defenders.
Midway through the first half Loxwood forced a corner on the right. Harry delivered the perfect cross for Ted to rise highest amongst the group of players to guide his header skilfully into the top right-hand far corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. The execution was sublime; it is a very difficult skill to control a header so perfectly. 1-0 to Loxwood - much to the home crowd’s delight.
The match continued to ebb and flow and Louis’s crunching challenge to halt the attacking player’s progress down the right was a reminder of the need for Loxwood to remain vigilant and strong in defence. With the next attack Louis fired over a cross to Harry on the edge of the penalty area. Harry took one touch beyond the marking defender before sweeping a half-volley low to the keeper’s right; a terrific piece of skill to finish with two great touches. 2-0 to Loxwood.
The home side carried this lead into half-time thanks to two ruthless finishes, without ever really firing on all cylinders. At HT the team were told to increase intensity and focus on protecting the winning position. Josh slotted into right-back for Joe with Rory moving to the middle, Brodie replaced Ben and Tom replaced Max in the midfield.
In the second half the defensive backline did a great job to close down space and block shots, giving the midfield a more solid platform to launch attacks. Every time Littlehampton played forward balls behind the defenders Eron was on hand to avert the danger. Tom, Ted and Louis were turning away from players well to launch attacks and release Harry and Brodie wide. Loxwood continued to press the visitors and going close on a few occasions. Hamish then forced a free-kick on the edge of the box before firing over. Brodie had a nice flick inside, and Josh worked hard down the right. To keep the up the momentum Max replaced Ted, Joe replaced Rory and Ben replaced Hamish up top. Max made some great threatening runs down the left combining with Harry again, and Joe continued to win balls at the back. Up front Ben chased hard and looked for opportunities.
In the final ten minutes Harry fired over more very dangerous corners but none of the Loxwood boys were able to apply a finishing touch. Soon afterwards the referee blew to signal the end of the match and a victory for the Lions to send them back to the top of the table.
Men of the match: Eron and Rory.
Eron was again superb and alert to the danger to claim another clean sheet, and Rory was rock-solid in his role and lightening quick to win every challenge.
FLANKED BY HARRY AND MAGNUS, THE TWO PLAYERS OF THE MATCH, ERON AND RORY PATROL THEIR AREA
Despite the incentive of a chance to go back top of the table, Loxwood started the match in second gear, frequently caught in possession and slower to the second ball than their hungrier opponents. Littlehampton were also very keen to test Eron early on, firing numerous shots from outside the penalty area. Eron was again very solid behind the ball, either gathering the ball into his chest or pushing the ball away from goal, as he did spectacularly with a low flashing drive to his left.
Eventually after ten minutes Loxwood gradually came more into the game, but still the Lions were not winning many 50/50 challenges and were still too slow to second and third balls in the middle of the park. In the middle Joe was winning balls in the air as an example to players around him, and Rory was excellent in closing down attacks down the right to win balls and drive forward. With Magnus solid on the left side and Fraser starting to carry the ball out of defence Loxwood began to come more into the game.
A great move down the left involving Harry and Max resulted in Loxwood’s first real chance of the match, which the Littlehampton keeper did well to save at his near post. The Loxwood midfield were slowly beginning to create openings and play more in the opposition half, but they often struggled for width which made the midfield more congested and harder for players in possession to thread penetrating passes beyond defenders.
Midway through the first half Loxwood forced a corner on the right. Harry delivered the perfect cross for Ted to rise highest amongst the group of players to guide his header skilfully into the top right-hand far corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. The execution was sublime; it is a very difficult skill to control a header so perfectly. 1-0 to Loxwood - much to the home crowd’s delight.
The match continued to ebb and flow and Louis’s crunching challenge to halt the attacking player’s progress down the right was a reminder of the need for Loxwood to remain vigilant and strong in defence. With the next attack Louis fired over a cross to Harry on the edge of the penalty area. Harry took one touch beyond the marking defender before sweeping a half-volley low to the keeper’s right; a terrific piece of skill to finish with two great touches. 2-0 to Loxwood.
The home side carried this lead into half-time thanks to two ruthless finishes, without ever really firing on all cylinders. At HT the team were told to increase intensity and focus on protecting the winning position. Josh slotted into right-back for Joe with Rory moving to the middle, Brodie replaced Ben and Tom replaced Max in the midfield.
In the second half the defensive backline did a great job to close down space and block shots, giving the midfield a more solid platform to launch attacks. Every time Littlehampton played forward balls behind the defenders Eron was on hand to avert the danger. Tom, Ted and Louis were turning away from players well to launch attacks and release Harry and Brodie wide. Loxwood continued to press the visitors and going close on a few occasions. Hamish then forced a free-kick on the edge of the box before firing over. Brodie had a nice flick inside, and Josh worked hard down the right. To keep the up the momentum Max replaced Ted, Joe replaced Rory and Ben replaced Hamish up top. Max made some great threatening runs down the left combining with Harry again, and Joe continued to win balls at the back. Up front Ben chased hard and looked for opportunities.
In the final ten minutes Harry fired over more very dangerous corners but none of the Loxwood boys were able to apply a finishing touch. Soon afterwards the referee blew to signal the end of the match and a victory for the Lions to send them back to the top of the table.
Men of the match: Eron and Rory.
Eron was again superb and alert to the danger to claim another clean sheet, and Rory was rock-solid in his role and lightening quick to win every challenge.
FLANKED BY HARRY AND MAGNUS, THE TWO PLAYERS OF THE MATCH, ERON AND RORY PATROL THEIR AREA