Lion FC Reserves end their season with a 4-1 victory after an impressive second half display in this bottom of the table clash.
With the grass freshly cut, and the sun shining down on Little Stoke Park, it seemed like a perfect day for football.
This idyllic scene was soon dramatically shattered by a moment of true horror when a local woman reserved her car into the infamous Little Stoke ditch. The ditch, which had already claimed first team captain Josh Armstrong as a victim this season, was seemingly intent on causing yet more carnage.
Never ones to shy away from a challenge, Lion FC were quick to act, demonstrating immense strength and selflessness to heroically rescue the hapless driver from the perilous Little Stoke car park.
Having completed their community out-reach, it was now time for Lion FC to focus on the football.
First Half.
With regular coach Sam Bennett away on international duty, it was Callum ‘cow-head’ Slade at the helm, naming an attractive squad full of vitality and enthusiasm.
The visiting team had a lot to play for, needing a victory to avoid a second consecutive season as the league’s bottom side.
The game started evenly, with both teams vying for possession and neither finding a great rhythm early on. There were early warning signs for both teams, with pacey front lines threatening to expose any lapse in concentration of either defence.
It was Lion, though, who struck first. A corner from Josh Hardie, though failing to beat the front man, was lucklessly struck by the Seymour defender into his own net.
The lead didn’t last long as a rare defensive error from the peerless Tom Eaton allowed the Seymour striker a one-on-one chance, which he converted with ease.
Lion continued to press, hoping to retake the lead before half time. The front line, which was rotated throughout by Slade, proved lively. After a good exchange between Josh and Rayan, Rehad was left with a good chance but failed to test the keeper. On another occasion, Josh found himself through on goal, but the bouncing ball failed to drop. Under pressure from the keeper, his lobbed attempt bounced wide.
An even half finished 1-1.
Second Half.
Composure and patience were the watchwords for the Lion FC half time team talk, with inspiring words from captain Daniel Mills and manager Slade stirring a mixture of passion, belief, and adoration in the Lion squad. There was a clear feeling that if Lion stuck to the short pass, held their nerve, and stopped just booting it so much, the victory would be theirs.
Lion started the half brightly, with Aymen winning a free kick deep into Seymour territory. The resulting effort, a solid strike from Josh, drifted wide.
Lion grew into the fixture, with the midfield duo of Mills and Ackroyd keeping the ball well and the pace of the Lion front line continuing to test Seymour.
The early second half pressure soon paid off, with a goal coming from a corner after about 55 minutes.
After the ball was whipped in by Josh, it fell to Callum, who turned on the ball to strike with his unfavoured right foot. The keeper managed get a touch on the high strike, deflecting it onto the bar before the ball eventually crossed the line.
A wave of belief swept across Lion who were now in the ascendency. Moments after the second, Rayan beat the Seymour left back with a trademark powerful run before squaring to Aymen. With only the keeper to beat, Aymen struck the ball well, forcing a good save from the keeper.
Meanwhile, Seymour’s midfielders were harried well by the Lion full backs and midfield. Their only attacks were limited to hopeful long balls, dealt with well by the keeper, Collins, and the centre half duo of Slade and Eaton.
The third Lion goal came from an unlikely source, in even unlikelier circumstances. When Ackroyd picked the ball up in midfield, he advanced forward before passing the ball with his left foot to Daniel Wake in an advanced position. Whether it was from horror, shock, or sheer fatigue, the Seymour centre-half duo failed to pick up Wake’s run and after a simple touch, Wake was through on goal.
With seemingly all the time in the world, Wake finished well, calmly slotting the ball under the keeper into the bottom right-hand corner.
Now with a two-goal cushion, Lion FC played with a sense of confidence and ease, passing the ball well and maintaining possession.
The fourth goal, the icing on the cake, was just reward for Josh Hardie after a tireless performance.
When Kieran McCue picked the ball up in the number 10 position, he skillfully beat the Seymour centre-half. Through on goal, McCue selflessly squared the ball to Josh, who gratefully buried the chance into an empty net.
The fixture finished 4-1, with Lion FC completing the league double over Seymour.
MOM: Tom Ackroyd for his dynamic performance in the centre of midfield.
Loser: Callum Slade. He may have a 100% record as Lion Reserves manager, but he’s still the man who led us to relegation.
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