Sunday’s match was billed as a classic top of the table clash which offered the Lions the opportunity to strengthen their grip on top spot and offered the visitors, Worthing United, the chance to leap past the Lions to go one point clear.
After an early inspection the pitch was passed fit to play; the heavy rain the previous day meant the ball would zip along the surface testing the control and passing skills of the players.
Before the match started both the teams and the supporters impeccably observed a minute of silence for Remembrance Day.
The Lions team for the day was Eron in goal; Rory, Fraser, Joe and Magnus across the back line; Louis, Tom M, Harry, Max and Brodie in midfield; Hamish upfront; and Ben, Josh and Daniel ready to come on.
The Lions started the match sharply playing with intensity and commitment from the very first whistle. Both teams attacked with purpose in the opening minutes, eager to gain an early advantage in such an important match.
Harry played in front of the midfield and Max moved to left midfield. Straight away Max created danger down the left being fed by Louis and Harry. At the other end the Lions‘ defence was robust, winning challenges and shielding the ball strongly out of play or back to Eron.
Eron was again solid in goal making saves and distributing the ball with purpose.
Early on Tom M pulled up with a thigh injury, so Ben slotted into midfield to maintain the Lions’ early midfield dominance.
On 15 minutes Eron played the ball long for Hamish to chase alongside the Worthing central defenders. Hamish held off the two defenders before sending a half-volley past the keeper to put the Lions in front 1-0.
By now the Lions were playing some fabulous football with flowing passes penetrating the midfield and defensive lines to keep the pressure on Worthing and creating more scoring chances. Harry sent a rapier pass from right to left to free Max who saw his shot blocked, then a brilliant pass from Louis allowed Hamish to beat the defender to the ball before flicking the ball to the keeper’s left; 2-0 to the Lions. The confidence now oozed from the Lions players as they played long and short passes and moved into space to receive the ball.
On 25 minutes Max drifted to the right side to pick up a pass on the edge of the box, before driving past a defender and rifling in a left foot shot along the surface and inside the left hand upright for his first competitive goal for the Lions. Terrific goal and 3-0 to the Lions..
On the stroke of half-time the ball was delivered to the right side of the Worthing goal from Harry’s throw-in. The keeper and defender looked favourite to reach the ball first but Hamish pounced to beat the defender, and cut in on his left foot, before lifting the ball over the helpless keeper to seal a first-half hat-trick - a cool finish to a super half. 4-0 to the Lions.
At half-time Josh replaced Brodie at right midfield and Daniel replaced Joe with Rory moving inside. Fraser pushed forward with Ben sitting in behind.
The Lions started the second half as they finished the first, firmly on the front foot, and after 5 minutes Fraser made a terrific, bursting run up the right channel before cutting inside the the penalty area to send a scorching right-foot shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Eron was varying his distribution brilliantly either long, or sending Magnus clear in space. Rory used his speed to shut down any Worthing attacks and play forward passes to the midfield, and Ben made some solid challenges beside him. In the middle Louis, Fraser and Harry continued to win tackles and test the Worthing back line.
Dropping deeper to find space, Hamish repeatedly played passes between and behind defenders to release Max down the left. The Worthing defence were powerless to stop the supply and could not contain the stream of danger down the left.
A quick thinking free-kick from Louis caught the Worthing defence out as he quickly released Hamish who let the ball run across his body before firing a shot across goal to the keeper’s right. The keeper made a brilliant flying save to tip the ball round the post which drew big applause. Super football all round!
In the 52nd minute Josh cleverly poked the ball forward for Fraser to run clear of the defence again. Fraser surged forward inside the penalty area, and steadied himself before smashing an unstoppable, rising shot to the keeper’s right for his first goal of the season and the Lions’ fifth of the match. Cracking strike!
Joe then replaced Rory, who was excellent again in defence, and Brodie replaced the hard-working Harry who did a great job as the central attacking midfielder
There was no let up at all from the Lions as the half wore on exemplified by Joe and Magnus charging forward with the ball out of defence to launch more attacks..
In the last few minutes Hamish whipped in a free-kick from the left to the back post which allowed Louis to challenge the keeper in the air. The ball dropped down and Brodie reacted fastest to sweep the ball home and make it 6-0 to the Lions.
Thanks
Shortly afterwards the excellent referee blew his whistle for full-time to confirm a convincing and well-deserved victory for the Lions against a good Worthing United team challenging at the top of the table. The Lions‘ sparkling performance was a pleasure to watch full of confidence, movement, great passing and desire. The Lions looked like a real team playing for each other. And the finishing was also excellent to ruthlessly convert the chances when they came.
Finally once again thank you to the marvellous Lions supporters who cheered all the goals and encouraged the boys throughout the match as always!
Players of the match: Max for his constant energy, drive and creativity, and Hamish for his hat-trick and intelligent passing.
After an early inspection the pitch was passed fit to play; the heavy rain the previous day meant the ball would zip along the surface testing the control and passing skills of the players.
Before the match started both the teams and the supporters impeccably observed a minute of silence for Remembrance Day.
The Lions team for the day was Eron in goal; Rory, Fraser, Joe and Magnus across the back line; Louis, Tom M, Harry, Max and Brodie in midfield; Hamish upfront; and Ben, Josh and Daniel ready to come on.
The Lions started the match sharply playing with intensity and commitment from the very first whistle. Both teams attacked with purpose in the opening minutes, eager to gain an early advantage in such an important match.
Harry played in front of the midfield and Max moved to left midfield. Straight away Max created danger down the left being fed by Louis and Harry. At the other end the Lions‘ defence was robust, winning challenges and shielding the ball strongly out of play or back to Eron.
Eron was again solid in goal making saves and distributing the ball with purpose.
Early on Tom M pulled up with a thigh injury, so Ben slotted into midfield to maintain the Lions’ early midfield dominance.
On 15 minutes Eron played the ball long for Hamish to chase alongside the Worthing central defenders. Hamish held off the two defenders before sending a half-volley past the keeper to put the Lions in front 1-0.
By now the Lions were playing some fabulous football with flowing passes penetrating the midfield and defensive lines to keep the pressure on Worthing and creating more scoring chances. Harry sent a rapier pass from right to left to free Max who saw his shot blocked, then a brilliant pass from Louis allowed Hamish to beat the defender to the ball before flicking the ball to the keeper’s left; 2-0 to the Lions. The confidence now oozed from the Lions players as they played long and short passes and moved into space to receive the ball.
On 25 minutes Max drifted to the right side to pick up a pass on the edge of the box, before driving past a defender and rifling in a left foot shot along the surface and inside the left hand upright for his first competitive goal for the Lions. Terrific goal and 3-0 to the Lions..
On the stroke of half-time the ball was delivered to the right side of the Worthing goal from Harry’s throw-in. The keeper and defender looked favourite to reach the ball first but Hamish pounced to beat the defender, and cut in on his left foot, before lifting the ball over the helpless keeper to seal a first-half hat-trick - a cool finish to a super half. 4-0 to the Lions.
At half-time Josh replaced Brodie at right midfield and Daniel replaced Joe with Rory moving inside. Fraser pushed forward with Ben sitting in behind.
The Lions started the second half as they finished the first, firmly on the front foot, and after 5 minutes Fraser made a terrific, bursting run up the right channel before cutting inside the the penalty area to send a scorching right-foot shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Eron was varying his distribution brilliantly either long, or sending Magnus clear in space. Rory used his speed to shut down any Worthing attacks and play forward passes to the midfield, and Ben made some solid challenges beside him. In the middle Louis, Fraser and Harry continued to win tackles and test the Worthing back line.
Dropping deeper to find space, Hamish repeatedly played passes between and behind defenders to release Max down the left. The Worthing defence were powerless to stop the supply and could not contain the stream of danger down the left.
A quick thinking free-kick from Louis caught the Worthing defence out as he quickly released Hamish who let the ball run across his body before firing a shot across goal to the keeper’s right. The keeper made a brilliant flying save to tip the ball round the post which drew big applause. Super football all round!
In the 52nd minute Josh cleverly poked the ball forward for Fraser to run clear of the defence again. Fraser surged forward inside the penalty area, and steadied himself before smashing an unstoppable, rising shot to the keeper’s right for his first goal of the season and the Lions’ fifth of the match. Cracking strike!
Joe then replaced Rory, who was excellent again in defence, and Brodie replaced the hard-working Harry who did a great job as the central attacking midfielder
There was no let up at all from the Lions as the half wore on exemplified by Joe and Magnus charging forward with the ball out of defence to launch more attacks..
In the last few minutes Hamish whipped in a free-kick from the left to the back post which allowed Louis to challenge the keeper in the air. The ball dropped down and Brodie reacted fastest to sweep the ball home and make it 6-0 to the Lions.
Thanks
Shortly afterwards the excellent referee blew his whistle for full-time to confirm a convincing and well-deserved victory for the Lions against a good Worthing United team challenging at the top of the table. The Lions‘ sparkling performance was a pleasure to watch full of confidence, movement, great passing and desire. The Lions looked like a real team playing for each other. And the finishing was also excellent to ruthlessly convert the chances when they came.
Finally once again thank you to the marvellous Lions supporters who cheered all the goals and encouraged the boys throughout the match as always!
Players of the match: Max for his constant energy, drive and creativity, and Hamish for his hat-trick and intelligent passing.
