Brereton Lion picked up another welcome three points in their chase for the Premier League title with a strong second half display against CK 77. The Lion were forced into two changes with Allison and Baker absent. In stepped the returning Ben Cushen, fresh from his international break in Hamburg, and Dunn, after impressing as a sub the week before. The Lion were trying to carry all the positives from the display the week before against Elmo's Celtic into this tricky league fixture. Manager Corrigan opted for a more direct based 4/4/2 formation with Simpson and Fulton on the flanks charged with supplying the crosses for Dunn and Perry to get after.
The Lion started fairly strong against a team they have never played before. CK 77 are sitting mid table in the league and have picked up a fair few points. With Brocton playmaker Dan Lomas as their captain they had to be respected and they immediately tried to pass the ball out from the back. As always Ross Perry was in no mood to watch defenders pass around him and he applied the defensive pressure from the word go. Alongside him, big Gary Dunn, was also busting a gut to stop the visitors settling.
Fulton was starting to impress on the right wing and was being found with some delicate through balls from Chandler. On two or three occasions Beckham evaded his marker and fired across dangerous shots. Allen & Carter had their work cut out in the middle against three CK players, but they never stopped grafting to get hold of the ball and they soon won the battle of the engine rooms. Ainger, Cushen & Franklin were on their toes, wary of letting in a breakaway goal to boost the visitor’s confidence. CK were sitting deep but trying to play into the channels to turn The Lion around. Casper, the coolest customer on the pitch, was never truly troubled and even had the audacity to drop the shoulder and dribble around the oppositions forward.
Dunn was starting to create chances and it was obvious that the away defence were struggling to contain the man mountain. Ainger forced the goal keeper into a camera save with a spectacular bicycle kick attempt that was flying into the top corner. The Lion pressure was mounting and on 30 minutes Dunn opened the scoring. Allen swung in a lovely flighted ball from the left wing that was perfect for Dunn to attack with his head and powerfully plant the ball into the bottom corner.
1-0
The Lion came close to making it two with the excellent Ross Perry getting behind the defence and just seeing his attempt squirm wide of the post. Dunn continued to be a threat but the Lion could not add to their goal tally.
HT 1-0 The Lion were well in a game here with CK showing flashes of attacking potential. Game on!
The Lion had a perfect start to the second half with Dunn again timing his run to perfection to meet a superb cross from the hardworking Perry. The away defence simply could not compete with the onrushing Dunn who bagged himself a brace. When Debo is in this mood in the area there are simply no defenders who can contain him. 2-0.
This goal certainly settled The Lion down and allowed them a bit more freedom in their play. Simpson and Franklin were linking up well on the left side and Allen was pulling the strings in the centre. Goal number 3 soon followed, and again it was due to the graft of Perry. Perry chased down a defender who attempted to clear but gifted the ball to Perry who slotted home with aplomb. 3-0.
On stepped Andrews & Cowlishaw now for Dunn & Carter, and these two players certainly had a massive impact with their ability to run with the ball at pace and complete quick one two’s.
Ainger got himself a tap in from a corner from Simpson for goal number 4 and it was fair to say that CK were starting to throw in the towel. 4-0. Lion veteran JR Dutton stepped onto the pitch in a midfield role and worked hard for the side in an industrious display.
Beckham Fulton now got the first of his well-deserved two goals. Good movement around the box from Flash and JR allowed Beckham the chance to shape up on his left foot and curl home a great goal with his left foot from eighteen yards out. 5-0
His second goal was from another well flighted corner by Simpson and some shocking CK marking. Perry fluffed a free header on the line and Becks improvised with a flick of his boot into the goal. 6-0.
Cowlishaw nearly scored with a strong run that evaded three players.
Andrews, who was running riot in the playmaker role, grabbed himself a goal with a great turn and drilled shot from the edge of the box. 7-0.
Great fitness and hunger on display by The Lion who were simply on fire in the second half. The Lion never stopped working for each other and were always after “one more goal” to boost their goal difference in the league table.
Man of the Match: A close battle between the front two, who fully justified Corrigan’s decision to go for a partnership in attack, with Dunn banging in a great brace. But the award heads to Perry, who simply never stopped running. A constant menace for the away defence and a perfect foil for the team in attack. Well done Pezza!!
Next week we play the Lamb away in the league at Hednesford Park. Three more points are required please!
