Lion Reserves notched up their first win of the season with a stunning come-back win away at Made for Ever Reserves.
Lion FC travelled to Southey Park during an unseasonable September heatwave, hoping to bounce back quickly from a disappointing mid-week defeat.
The game started evenly, with neither team managing to secure long periods of possession and Lion perhaps guilty of not playing with enough composure or concentration.
Lion’s below-par start was soon punished. After a speculative long ball over the Lion right back, the Mades lively striker managed to squeeze a way behind the Lion defence. The advancing striker’s low shot was well saved by Harper in the Lion goal, but the looping rebound fell directly into the path of the onrushing midfielder, leaving an empty net. Lion were now 1-0 down within 15 minutes.
Despite the early set back, Lion FC grew into the game, maintaining possession well and creating a flurry of chances. Lion’s attacking trio of Josh, Al and Dorney all had opportunities to level the game, spurning chances from inside the box.
Only a heroic piece of last ditch defending prevented Josh from opening his account for the season; the Mades right back miraculously heading the ball onto the bar after a close range shot from Josh.
Lion were soon punished for their profligacy in front of goal, with an almost carbon copy attacking move extending the home side’s lead after the mid half drinks break. Yet another long ball over the top was greeted by the same striker, who this time buried his chance at the near post after some lacklustre defending.
Lion went into the half time break losing 2-0, rueing a catalogue of missed chances.
Second Half
Lion’s player manager Slade urged calmness at the break, demanding his players stick to their short ball passing and patient build up play.
Lion started the half well, keeping hold of the ball and trying to get in behind the opposition full backs. Clear cut chances were hard to come by though, and Lion were perhaps guilty of opting for crosses from deep rather than keeping possession and waiting for the right pass.
The best chance of this period fell to Kieran McCue, who blasted over from first half substitute Daniel Wake’s pinpoint cut back.
Mades nearly made Lion pay for their continued wastefulness in front of goal. After a moving the ball well through the midfield, a through ball found the Mades striker in space. His cross-goal shot was well struck, but saved soundly by Harper, crucially keeping the score at 2-0.
Lion FC finally halved the deficit through an unlikely source. Tom Eaton, moved into central midfield from his accustomed defensive role, found himself on the ball in the box after a smart cut-back from Rehad. Taking his time, Eaton sold the defended a dummy before coolly slotting home to the keeper’s left.
Now only one goal behind, Lion emerged from the drinks break full of confidence, but wary of the clock with only 20 minutes left. Lion maintained their calm however, controlling the ball well in midfield with full backs McGovern and Wake getting plenty of touches during the build-up.
Lion levelled the score and took the lead in quick succession, with two goals from Josh Hardie. The first was an excellent finish after an Al Moores through ball. Collecting the ball well, Hardie advanced towards the goal, luring the keeper off his line before slotting the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
The second goal cam from the penalty spot. After more Lion pressure resulted in a corner, Dorney’s header was cleared off the goal line by the leaping Mades defender. The Lion players felt this was a clear case of hand ball and the referee agreed. After a long delay, Josh blasted the penalty down the middle and gave Lion the lead for the first time.
With only 10 minutes left to play, Mades struggled to regain a foothold into the game, playing with a bare 11 and consequently unable to rotate players in the blistering heat.
Lion, however, made the most of their bench, rotating players throughout the latter stages.
Despite this, Mades had a golden chance to level the game after Lion. After an attacking free kick was initially cleared, Mades gathered the ball and looped the ball towards the Lion penalty area. Substitute Wake approached the ball, and wound up an impressive clearance, only to miss the ball by a substantial margin. The Mades player was taken by surprise and fortunately for Lion, blasted the ball over.
With the clock ticking, Lion continued to maintain possession well and stretched the game, building through the midfield and finding space in the channels.
The fourth goal was a stunning solo effort by Mo Sumareh who collected the ball from Al Moores just inside the Mades half. He then cut inside, rounding the wingback and ended a 40-yard sprint with an emphatic finish into the roof of the net from close range.
Mo then added to his tally within injury time after an incredible solo run from Al Moores, who carried the ball from well inside his own half, sprinting half the length of Kingswood before drawing out the keeper and unselfishly sliding the ball across goal. Mo gratefully tapped the ball into the empty net, giving Lion a 5-2 lead only seconds before the full-time whistle.
MOM: Al Moores for his tireless running and trio of assists.
Loser: Jake Haynes for losing the plot briefly and when the referee asked to speak to the captain about his behaviour, had the shame of owning up to being captain himself.
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