Luddesdown Lions won just their 3rd league game of the season as they moved up to 7th in the league table.
Medway Rams were the visitors, and desite only 1 league win to their name they had drawn a further 5 in the league and held the Lions to two 1-1 draws last season.
The Lions were delighted to welcome back into the team Sam Brady & Liam Fauklin, who have only had 7 appearences between them this season, despite featuring so heavily in the team last campaign. Sam Brady was paired upfront with Marcus Farrell, as the Lions were missing their 3 top goalscorers Foxon (7), Jewis (7) and Uings (6). Terry Whitehead started his 8th consecutive game in goal, as he continures his recovery from an ankle injury. The back 3 featured Norris, Jones & Fauklin for the 10th different defensive combination this season. Chidlow and Matthews were deployed on the wings, as Simon Watson continued in centre midfield after a highly impressive performance in that position last week, which looks to have been noted by manager Avery. Joing him in cnetre midfield was last weeks match winner Joe Crinnion and a debut for new signing Steve Emberson.
The first half was well controlled by the Lions, as they had a high percentage of possesion without creating to many clear cut chances. the best of those chances falling to Joe Crinnion as Sam Brady did excellent on the left hand side before pulling back what looked like a simple tap in for Crinnion, but on a bobbly pitch Crinnion blazed over & wide. Alex Matthews had the other notable chance with a good effort heading for the bottom corner that the goalkeeper managed to tip round the post. HT 0-0
The second half the Lions stepped up a gear as they began to pass the ball round the pitch with ease. The Rams were beginning to look increasingly tired as the match wore on. The breakthrough came with the Lions having a free kick deep in the own half. Jones played it short to Norris, who thne played a nice ball into Crinnion, he then chipped the ball over the top looking for Farrell, and when the defender couldnt reach it, Farrell went through, kept his composure and slotted the ball expertly past the goalkeeper. Shortly after the Lions were 2 up, Crinnion again making a good forward run, got in between two players only to be sandwiched down to the ground by 2 Rams defenders. A free kick just outside the area was taken by the highly impressive Emberson who placed the ball perfectly in the top hand corner of the goal. Breathing space for the Lions, and it really should of been 3, but Farrell couldnt arranged his feet quick enough as he shot wide from just a few yards out. In truth this was a comfortable win for the Lions as the Rams rarely threatened the Lions goal.
So back to back wins for the Lions and back to back consecutvie clean sheets for just the 1st time this season and only the 3rd time in their history. They have never kept 3 clean sheets in a row, can they do it next week? Next up is AEI Sports in the 3rd round of the Sittingbourne & Milton Charity Cup, which despite being in division 6, AEI have already proved their pedigree by beating Division 4 leaders Grain 3-2 in the cup.
My man of the match goes to Steve Emberson, who was a different class out there, and scored a fine 2nd goal for the Lions.
