LIONS SHOW CLASS IN GOAL-TEN PERFORMANCE
F.C. Lions of Wycombe recorded their highest ever win this morning when brushing aside AFC Terriers Reserves with a scoreline that read 10-1.
Scott Sharples opened the scoring after 14 minutes, racing clear down the left and out pacing the full back before curling across the keeper and into the far right top corner. Striker John Tilbury then marked his 3rd start up front with his 3rd goal, running through the heart of the Terriers defence before shooting low past the keeper with his weaker left foot.
His strike partner Will Carter then nearly got in on the act but after twisting and turning in the box, could only see his slightly scuffed effort hit the post and roll across the line before being cleared away to safety.
Man of the moment Ben Phippen then produced the best goal of the game, finding the net from an audacious 30 yard lob after spotting the keeper off his line. It was one way traffic now and Terriers centre half Gareth Bassett was left on the floor after prodding the ball into his own net, trying desperately to cut out a dangerous Sharples ball in from the left.
The Lions were creating chances on every attack, and soon after Tilbury almost made it 5, just failing to get on the end of a fizzing ball across the goalmouth by winger Royan Collins. Not to be deterred though, Tilbury was put through one on one soon after but he got his attempted lob wrong and only succeeded in popping the ball into the grateful keepers arms.
Sharples then grabbed his second with a carbon copy of his first goal to ensure the Lions went into the half time break 5 to the good.
The second half was somewhat of a disappointment by the Lions lofty standards, but it couldn't of started any better as within 3 minutes of the restart, Carter eventually got his goal - reacting quickest to control, and then bury home a mishit Ben Phippen strike.
6-0 and that was then end of the majestic Lions play for about 15 minutes as complacency kicked in, despite all the warnings from Carter and Tilbury during the break, and Terriers grabbed a foothold in the game, even pulling a goal back after 52 minutes.
Despite taking their foot off the gas, the Lions weren't finished yet and winger Ben Phippen, grabbed his second of the game with his effort dribbling over the goalline, after a mazy run.
Carter then had a penalty appeal turned down, after going down in the box whilst under pressure from the Terriers right back. Replay's would've shown there to have been contact, if all but minimal.
Royan Collins then had a goal disallowed after being adjudged to have fouled the keeper in the build up, after Carter's looping header was parried off the goal-line.
"Captain Fantastic" Scott Sharples then sealed his hat-trick with a delightful finish from the left hand side of the area to cap off a wonderful individual performance, and he wasn't finished, moments later dinking a world class ball over the top for Phippen to grap his hat trick - again lobbing the keeper, but this time not so spectacularly.
Phippen then ended the rout sliding his 4th home at the near post after being superbly put through by Jake Sherwin on the right hand side.
All in all, a superb performance from the boys in blue, who have really started to click in the last 3 games, and now find themselves sitting pretty, third in the table behind Old Oak and AFC Marlow.
Man of the Match. Scott Sharples.
