After almost a month off with no matches due to the weather and Easter, the Lions were finally back in League action. The opponents this week were AFC Allstars who had performed well in B East in the Autumn and only lost one match this season so it was going to be a difficult game.
Despite the break, many of the team had been training all week down at Phoenix so were fit and ready to go.
Kick Off
From the kick off, Phoenix were well organised and played some good football. Archie Roast was roaming and running at defenders but Allstars were equally as organised and were putting in some good tackles. The Allstars keeper was forced to make some good saves to keep the Lions out especially from corner kicks where Henry Powell had been unlucky with some great headers.
Allstars had a few attacks of their own but Jai Carter and Charlie Hanmore were looking composed and comfortable at the back, backed up by Ben Chesley who was patroling the midfield. Charlie even having the audacity to backheel past an Allstars attackers to bring the ball out of his own penalty box!
Eventually the pressure told and Lions took the lead through an own goal. A shot came in from the left hand side and it was deflected past the stranded keeper. No more than Phoenix deserved at that stage. 0-1 to the Lions.
Half Time - AFC Allstars 0 Phoenix Lions 1
The usual substitutions were made but Phoenix continued to hold their own. However, Allstars were pushing now and after some sloppy defending, were able to equalise through their tricky number 11 who had been a danger all afternoon. 1-1
Lions didn't let their heads go down though and pushed again, with James Ash forcing a corner. Charlie quickly spotted Ben for a short one and Ben found the net from a tight angle despite the best efforts of the Allstars keeper. 1-2 Lions.
Allstars came again though and were pushing to get back into the game for a second time. After failing to clear their lines, Lions got punished when an Allstars attacker lobbed keeper Josh Anderson to see his shot come off the bar and after a scramble, fall to the number 11 who scored again for his second to make it 2-2.
Only seconds remained when disaster struck. A short goal kick was closed down and Lions failed to clear again with Allstars forcing a corner. From the low corner, a shot came in and despite being almost straight at him, Ben Chesley was penalised for handball, the home referee awarding a penalty despite the protests from the Lions players.
It was left to the Allstars number 11 to grab his hatrick and give them the lead. 3-2 Allstars.
It was literally the last kick of the game because as soon as the Lions kicked off, the referee blew for full time. No time added on for the late goals which was very dissapointing.
Full Time - AFC Allstars 3 Phoenix Lions 2
So despite the debatle late refereeing decisions, the Lions pay the penalty yet again for sloppy defending, failing to clear their lines properly and not being able to defend corners. It really has been the story of their season. It is also their third 3-2 defeat of the season and they probably deserved at least a draw in 2 of those. But you don't always get what you deserve in football and are punished for any mistakes in the higher leagues - something the Lions are finding out this Spring.
3 league games to go and you can be sure Jason and Martyn will rally the troops for the next game.
Come on you Lions!
