The first game of the new season saw the Lions up against one of their old rivals Baslow fc. The lions three new signings this year all made their debuts The general Jay Roose started at Cb, Joe the whippet wragg started behind Jon Cooper up top and Ritchie rich askew had to settle for the bench. The lions also welcomed back Cameroon international Ash dooley to the starting line up after returning from his loan spell at Rowsley 86.
You couldn't of hoped for more lovely day (rained constantly all the way through). Manager Dean Concannon asked for his players to be there 30 mins earlier this week to go through last minute preparations and asked his team to deliver and they did just that.
The lions started the game kicking towards the ponds side. Baslow started with a little bit more fight in them but the lions resisted that.
Manager Dean Concannon was forced to make a change early on as Ash Dooley pulled up with a calf injury (most likely due to all ratting he's been doing of late). This handed Rich Akey his debut.
Chances were going each way but it was the lions who broke the deadlock on 23mins as Jordan watts got in behind the Baslow defence to lift the ball over the keeper. From there it was the lions who played the better football and better chances in the 1st half.
In the 2nd half Baslow upped the ante and put pressure on the lions who couldn't hold out. Within 10 mins of the restart Baslow found themselves back in the game.
Things went from bad to worse for the lions as Baslow scored again. A low driven shot skidded off the went surface which made it difficult for keeper Rob the bison Marsden to hold on to and the Baslow forward converted the follow up.
The lions had a chance(that came begging) to come back into the game when Jon Cooper had a chance from 6 yards out, however he failed to convert putting the ball over the bar.
15 minutes from time the ball came to the attention of Liam the leopard Ashton who smashed it into the bottom right hand corner giving the keeper no chance. With 10 mins to go Concannon looked to his bench again but Matthew can't retire won't retire Warren was enjoying running the line Dean turned to his son Shippo the gypo Jake Shipley to come on at Lwb. We don't no what this guy has been eating or who he's been ratting but this guy has come on over the last two games. The m.o.m performance for me has to go to Jay Roose his organisation and communication through the game were of high quality and lifted the others to do the same. Darley Lions are also looking to recruit staff. One job in particular is club Dj after Martin the music man was released from his post for playing Elton John
