A much changed F.C. Lions of Wycombe hosted the second game in a week between the two sides, on Sunday, and were less than 5 minutes away from a much needed victory when Tom Carter, making his first appearance for Prestwood this season, flicked on a late free kick, past an otherwise outstanding Eric Talma, to level the scores, following Will Carter's well taken opener for the Lions just before half time.
With big hitters such as Sherwin, Sharples, Hunt, Patterson, Tilbury and Heggarty - amongst others - missing, the Lions lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with a back four of West (a late replacement for Michael Jocelyn, who injured himself in the warm up) Tom Stevens, Dale Why and Keegan Casey, behind a midfield four of Luke Carter, Arran Bree, Ben Forster and Royan Collins, with Norman McCorkell deployed in the free role behind Carter.
The Lions started well once more, and could've had their third goal of the season in the opening minute from matches this season, but McCorkell could only see his effort pushed onto the bar, following a clever reverse through ball by striker Carter. The two linked up again well when Carter's diagonal ball found McCorkell at the far post, but the dimunitive frontman couldn't get the ball out of his feet in time.
The Lions midfield had started well, and won everything in the middle of the park, the duo of Bree and Forster particularly impressive. The Lions thought they may of had a penalty in the 35h minute, when Arran Bree's delicately placed through ball was latched onto by Carter, who was then felled inside the box by a robust challenge, the referee however waved away what the Lions considered strong claims for a spot kick.
Prestwood's number 3, was having a great game at the back, and alongside defensive partner Wheatley, dispursed many of the Lions attacks, as they blew cold for the next few minutes, and could've scored themselves when a ball was fired across the face of the Lions goal, somehow being put wide at the far post, before F.C. Lions finally opened the scoring at a crucial point in the game, when the ball found it's way through the Lions midfield into the feet of Luke Carter on the edge of the box, who expertly flicked the ball over the Prestwood defence for his namesake Will Carter to control on his knee, before carrying the ball forward and sliding an effort under the onrushing Prestwood keeper. The ball being helped into the net by a despairing defender, attempting to clear at the last minute. 1 in 1 for Carter, who knows he has to be taking his chances when faced with stiff competition for places this season.
Half Time Lions 1-0 Prestwood.
It was felt that the Lions had underperformed so far in the game, and manager Carter switched to a preferred 4-3-3 formation, with Collins, sitting with Forster in DMC and Arran Bree, who was enjoying an outstanding game, being given the freedom to roam behind a front three of L.Carter, W.Carter and McCorkell.
The change initially looked liked coming to an immediate fruition as Keegan Casey, another having a fine game once again, saw a fierce left foot effort blocked, and then McCorkell unable to find space to get off a strike, after good work from Collins and Casey on the left.
Carter then had his second penalty shout turned away, when entering the area for a bouncing ball, only to be clattered by the keeper, who came out with his foot raised, plunging it straight into Carter's knee as he palmed the ball away from danger and then landed on the frontman for good measure. "Nothing amiss with that" claimed the referee, astonishing.
With 56 minutes played, Carter rang the first changes, replacing a tiring Scott West with Simon Thomas, and the impressive Ben Forster with the tenacious Ross Coker. in a like-for-like double substitution.
On 64 minutes, Carter then replaced himself with forward Ben Phippen, who started the game on the bench having arrived an hour later than the proposed meeting time. It was hoped that Phippen's introduction would relight the fire in the Lions attack, and try as he might, it just never got going again. On 82 minutes, Carter opted to stick and changed the formation to a 5-3-2 with McCorkell dropping to RB and a DMC trio of Collins, Coker and Bree, but with 3 minutes left, the Lions gave away a silly free kick and the inswinging ball was flicked on by Tom Carter and past a helpless Talma in the Lions goal. Talma, up until this point had displayed a performance worthy of recognition, and was duly awarded the Man of the Match bottle after the game, narrowly pipping a very impressive Arran Bree to the prize. Keegan Casey deserves credit too for another display of energy and guts, even clearing a late Prestwood effort off the line.
