It had been an enjoyable Saturday for the Lions with a good training session in the morning followed by a special treat organised by Martin and Jason. The Lions were the special guests of Welling United for their Blue Square South game against Basingstoke. The Lions were included in the match day programme, were introduced to the crowd as the league winners with their individual names read over the tannoy & formed a guard of honour as the players of both sides ran out. You could tell by the deafening noise from the boys during the first half that they were excited about the prospect of what was to happen at half time. Each of them took two penalties against the Welling Utd keeper in front of the home crowd. Some cracking penalties were scored including two belters from Tom Wray that nearly took the back of the net off, much to the surprise of the Welling keeper.
After all the fun of the previous day it was back to league action on Sunday morning with an important match against Halls AFC Blue who were on the same points as the Lions with an identical record. We hadn’t played the team before so they were an unknown quantity. The Lions had lost their two previous games 3-2 through indifferent play in one and being very unfortunate in the other and somewhat unusually had lost both of their home games in the current season . Therefore, the management were keen for the boys to get back to winning ways at home.
It was an early kick off on a cold mothering Sunday and the Lions were kicking down the generally advantageous Phoenix slope in the first half. The Lions were a man light from the start with their stalwart defender, Charlie Hanmore, enjoying a much deserved week off.
Kick Off
Halls AFC kicked off and from the start it was clear that they had been trained to play a good passing game (unlike our previous weeks opponents ! ). A quick move down the middle ended in a shot deflecting off a Phoenix defender and looping over keeper Josh and hitting the bar. An early warning ! Phoenix responded with some good passing moves of their own and with some harrying & battling from George Dennington and Henry Powell, resulting in a James Ash shot being saved by the Halls AFC keeper.
Just when it had seemed that the Lions starting to gather momentum the inevitable happened ! Halls AFC passed the ball expertly through midfield evading some loose tackling from the Lions. The ball was worked to a Halls player whose long range shot was parried into the air by Josh Anderson but the ball looped up and over the line. Lions 0-1 Halls AFC.
The Lions needed a quick response and that is exactly what they provided us with. Some great passing down the Lions right with Jack Whitman finding James Ash on the wing who crossed to Henry Powell in the box. Henry managed to get the ball to George Dennington on his right who hit a first time shot off the Halls AFC post and into the goal. Great response from the Lions. 1-1
Unfortunately, the Lions could not maintain the momentum and Halls AFC came back into the game strongly. The Halls AFC striker had been causing problems for the Lions defence of Tom Wray and Jay Carter since kick off through finding space behind the defence & proving a problem to mark but they had both dealt with him efficiently. The lead was retaken through somewhat fortunate circumstances with a clearance from the Lions defence landing at the feet of a Halls AFC player just inside the half whose lobbed clearance managed to find its way over everyone and dipped just under the crossbar. Intended or not the result is the same – Lions 1-2 Halls AFC.
The Lions regrouped and again came back with Jack Whitman hitting a shot on to the bar. The Lions had been struggling defending corners in recent weeks but it was their own corner that was to prove to be their downfall this week. A Lions corner was cleared long by Halls AFC to their tricky striker who managed to get past the challenges of Ben Chesley and Tom Wray and smash the ball past the despairing dive of Josh Anderson. 1-3 Halls AFC
The Lions needed to get back on the score sheet before halftime to generate some confidence for the second half and that is exactly what they did with a fantastic solo goal from Archie Roast. Archie took the ball in the middle of the Halls half, went on a run past three Halls players and despatched the ball past the Halls AFC keeper into the right bottom corner. Lions 2 Halls 3.
Half Time: Phoenix Lions 2 Halls AFC 3
I do not know what manager Jason Ash said to the players at half time but it definitely worked as the Lions came out very strongly in the second half.
It was started by Archie Roast, who was on fire at this point, hitting a shot that deflected off a post. Keeper Josh Anderson played his part charging off his line to block a shot from the Halls striker who was clean through. But at this point it was all Lions with Archie Roast, Jack Whitman & Ben Chesley dominating midfield and creating many chances. Jack Whitman was getting into some great positions and almost scored on numerous occasions. Ben Chesley just failed by millimetres to convert an Archie Roast shot across the box and George Denningtons lunge from a Ben Chesley cross went under the keeper who unfortunately managed to stop the ball crossing the line. Surely the goal would come soon….and it did. Archie Roast was running the Halls defence ragged and a foul on him outside the area resulted in a free kick being given. After discussion between our free kick specialists Archie Roast and James Ash, it was agreed that the duty will be left to the former and he didn’t let us down with an amazing right foot curling free kick over the Halls wall and into the top right hand corner of the net. Eat your heart out Mr Bale !!! Lions 3 Halls 3
Just when we thought that a Lions win would surely follow, Halls AFC came up with their own comeback from , yes you’ve guessed it, a corner. The initial corner and shot was saved by keeper Josh Anderson but the ball rebounded out and was worked to the right where a Halls player was waiting to despatch the ball into the net. Lion 3 Halls 4
That was harsh on the Lions. There was less than ten minutes left… could the Lions come up with a response. The Lions continued to come forward in search of an equaliser. The ball was worked into the penalty area where Archie Roast turned and got off a shot that the Halls keeper saved. The ball rebounded out to Ben Chesley who fired the ball first time with his left foot into the top corner. Lions 4 Halls 4.
Time was fast running out and both teams were looking for a winning goal. Halls were pressing down the Lions left when the ball was cleared upfield by the Lions defence. The ball was travelling quite quickly and seemingly into the Halls keepers hands. Archie Roast had other ideas though and did not give up the chase. He just got his boot to the ball at the same time as the keeper and as the ball ran loose he got to his feet and tapped the ball into an empty net. Lions 5 Halls 4.
There was only about thirty seconds remaining and the Lions managed to see out the remaining time without any further drama. A great win for the Lions and a fantastic game of football with both teams playing their part. That puts the Lions above Halls AFC in the table with three wins. A great end to a good weekend.
Full Time - Phoenix Lions 5 Halls AFC Blue 4
Come on you Lions !!
