For the first league match of the new year the Lions travelled away to Cup Final opponents, Wick Dynamos.
The match-day squad this week was Eron; Rory, Joe, Fraser and Magnus; Ben, Harry Freddie, Louis and Tom M; Hamish; Daniel and Tom L.
On a very sticky and very wide pitch the Lions made a quick start. The Lions attacked with quick passes through the Wick midfield and beyond the defence to create early chances on goal..
On 10 minutes Freddie spun away down the left and fired a curling ball into the path of Hamish who took one touch before firing low to the keeper’s left, 1-0 to the Lions..
On 16 minutes great work in midfield by the industrious Louis and Tom M set Harry free and Harry poked it forward to Hamish who struck the shot first time which beat the keeper to his right this time, 2-0 to the Lions..
The Lions pressure was occasionally eased by long balls into the channels for fast strikers to run on to, but Magnus and Rory, and later Tom M and Daniel on the flanks and Fraser and Joe in the middle closed down any danger..
Increasingly Harry and Ben were becoming more dangerous and threatening as the Lions stepped up the intensity, forcing corners and throws as Wick tried furiously to defend. The Lions were not to be denied though and on 25 minutes a great move through the middle resulted in Hamish flicking the ball on for Freddie to run clear of the defence before picking his spot low beyond the struggling keeper, 3-0 Lions.
On 30 minutes Fraser picked the ball up in the middle and slipped past 3 players on a great run which took him deep into the Wick penalty area on the right-hand side. He then fired at goal and the ball deflected into the net off the defender’s leg, 4-0 Lions...
All the goals had been scored despite the attacking players being caught offside regularly..
Wick played much better in the second half with more opportunities to attack the channels. All the Lions defenders did well but Magnus was particularly strong repelling the Wick attacks and winning challenges on his side with his energy and commitment. On 48 minutes a Wick corner was only half-cleared and the Wick player was able to crash the ball home, 1-4. Five minutes later the referee pointed to the penalty spot when a Wick cross from the right was floated into the Lions penalty area. The penalty was struck hard and high to Eron’s right but Eron dives and made a quite spectacular save with his right hand to divert the ball over the bar. The referee later described the sabe as one of the best penalty saves he had seen in his time as a referee. Brilliant!
The Lions, after a strong first half, struggled to build momentum in the second half, perhaps believing the match was won at half-time and not helped by the sticky and bumpy pitch and the repeated off-sides against an effective Wick high back line. Despite Fraser, Tom L, Louis, Harry, Ben and Tom L all pushing forward with some clever moves the Lions weren’t quite able to create the same chances to score to add to the first half goals.
Player of the match: Great credit to Eron for his penalty save, and to Tom L and Louis in midfield but this week’s award goes to Magnus who battled valiantly particularly in the second half when the Lions came under pressure.
The match-day squad this week was Eron; Rory, Joe, Fraser and Magnus; Ben, Harry Freddie, Louis and Tom M; Hamish; Daniel and Tom L.
On a very sticky and very wide pitch the Lions made a quick start. The Lions attacked with quick passes through the Wick midfield and beyond the defence to create early chances on goal..
On 10 minutes Freddie spun away down the left and fired a curling ball into the path of Hamish who took one touch before firing low to the keeper’s left, 1-0 to the Lions..
On 16 minutes great work in midfield by the industrious Louis and Tom M set Harry free and Harry poked it forward to Hamish who struck the shot first time which beat the keeper to his right this time, 2-0 to the Lions..
The Lions pressure was occasionally eased by long balls into the channels for fast strikers to run on to, but Magnus and Rory, and later Tom M and Daniel on the flanks and Fraser and Joe in the middle closed down any danger..
Increasingly Harry and Ben were becoming more dangerous and threatening as the Lions stepped up the intensity, forcing corners and throws as Wick tried furiously to defend. The Lions were not to be denied though and on 25 minutes a great move through the middle resulted in Hamish flicking the ball on for Freddie to run clear of the defence before picking his spot low beyond the struggling keeper, 3-0 Lions.
On 30 minutes Fraser picked the ball up in the middle and slipped past 3 players on a great run which took him deep into the Wick penalty area on the right-hand side. He then fired at goal and the ball deflected into the net off the defender’s leg, 4-0 Lions...
All the goals had been scored despite the attacking players being caught offside regularly..
Wick played much better in the second half with more opportunities to attack the channels. All the Lions defenders did well but Magnus was particularly strong repelling the Wick attacks and winning challenges on his side with his energy and commitment. On 48 minutes a Wick corner was only half-cleared and the Wick player was able to crash the ball home, 1-4. Five minutes later the referee pointed to the penalty spot when a Wick cross from the right was floated into the Lions penalty area. The penalty was struck hard and high to Eron’s right but Eron dives and made a quite spectacular save with his right hand to divert the ball over the bar. The referee later described the sabe as one of the best penalty saves he had seen in his time as a referee. Brilliant!
The Lions, after a strong first half, struggled to build momentum in the second half, perhaps believing the match was won at half-time and not helped by the sticky and bumpy pitch and the repeated off-sides against an effective Wick high back line. Despite Fraser, Tom L, Louis, Harry, Ben and Tom L all pushing forward with some clever moves the Lions weren’t quite able to create the same chances to score to add to the first half goals.
Player of the match: Great credit to Eron for his penalty save, and to Tom L and Louis in midfield but this week’s award goes to Magnus who battled valiantly particularly in the second half when the Lions came under pressure.
