On another perfect afternoon in Bristol, Lion Fc once again graced the field against Nicholas Wanderers Reserves, a team struggling in the Bristol combination division 1. The high fliers in the Bristol and District Senior league turned up with morale high…. and some questionable hats *cough DAN JONES cough*.
Anyway…
As ever, Lion started the game in excellent fashion; quality ball retention, with the wanderers’ long ball game failing to break Lions’ solid defence whenever they managed to gain possession.
A few early chances came Lions’ way, but to no avail. Most Notably Harris smashing a quality cut-back off the bar (50p fine) after some excellent wing play, with Tall Mo and (the resident cheesestring) Felix, both inches from tapping in some wicked crosses. But as it turned out, Lion didn’t need their own players to connect.
The first goal came in rather unfortunate circumstances for the Combination Div 1 outfit. After left winger Jizz was fouled on the touchline, Josh Armstrong placed the ball down with purpose, and proceeded to whip a dangerous curling ball into the box. He is Lions’ top assister this season, but not even he could claim this one; The ball glancing off a defensive head and sailing over a despairing keeper. 1-0 Lion.
Not long after, on the opposite wing, Tall Mo was fouled. This gave Josh another opportunity to deliver one of his trademark crosses. Different wing… Same outcome. The ball was again curled across with a mixture of whip and float, but this time it was the goalkeeper himself at fault, with the ball slipping through his hands and into the net. 2-0 Lion.
With the half drawing to a close, the team a league below seemed to be coasting. However Nicholas were now pushing, and Lion were given a warning. A bouncing ball bundled through the Lion box, and after a save from stand-in keeper Shaun, a Nicholas head nudged the ball onto the post, only to see it dribble across the goalline for what seemed like an eternity. The once again excellent Steve Moss at Centre back finally hoofing the ball away. Lion shot up the other end and won a corner. However, the ball didn’t take long to come back from whence it came. A Wanderers defender walloped the ball upfield on the left wing, and a usually rock steady Joe Galli let the ball bounce twice. Their No.10 nipped in, leaving Joe stranded, and even with Steve pushing him wide, he lashed a left footed strike into the roof of the Lion net. 2-1 Lion.
Nicholas kicked off the second half, down but not out. Their high press starting to come to fruition. Lion were giving away possession, and a silly foul resulted in a free kick in dangerous territory, which luckily whistled just wide from a powerful strike. A rather more innocuous foul on the wing gave their No.9 another chance to shoot, but his rasping drive stuck to Shaun like a wet sock on a window.
From this point on however, the speed and quality of Lions’ possession had worn down Wanderers. A free roaming Ryan Robinson at No.10 nutmegging their players close to a thousand times, and with Josh and Harris as solid as ever in midfield, Nicholas dropped off.
Second half substitute Really Old Mo was terrorizing their already tired left side, and apart from a strange moment where he was more fixated on the bust up on the pitch next door, was alert and ready to prove he has no place on the bench. He and other sub Dan Jones linking up well a few times. And after some neat play down the right, the ball was played to Ryan in the six yard box. He sidestepped a challenge and rifled a seemingly unmissable chance onto the bar (another 50p).
It wasn’t long after that Lion sealed the game. A lofted ball from Josh drifted into the path of top scorer Ryan, who touched down beautifully and finished with… well it went in and that’s all that matters.
Lion closed out the game, maybe slightly lucky not to give away a penalty in the dying moments, but held on to win.
MOM: Ryan Robinson, for the goal and tireless work all over the pitch.
Losers: Mo for his very very strange comment about the goalpost hole, and Dan Jones because someone accidentally bought an extra pint, and he didn’t bring a hat. BOOOOO
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