On a cold but sunny Sunday morning, Phoenix Lions were faced with a league game against Titan Tigers who had beaten them 1-5 the previous week in the Vase Cup. The management team of Jason Ash and Martyn Whitman had trained the boys the previous day on working as a team and closing down the opposition in preparation for what would surely be a tough fixture.
Kick Off
Straight from the start, Phoenix gave Titan no space at all and attacked the ball at every opportunity. The pitch, in contrast to the previous week, was nice and flat and allowed Phoenix to play some good passing moves early on.
The Lions took an early lead when some good build up play allowed Archie Roast to slot home for 1-0.
Titan, like Phoenix, liked to play the ball out from the back. But in an almost reverse to the previous week, it was the Lions who were putting pressure on every goal kick this time. And it paid off as the Titan goalie mis-hit a goal kick and livewire Henry Powell pounced on it to smash home for 2-0.
Lions tails were up now, confidence had come flooding back and they scented blood.
A third came courtesy of a well worked short corner. Archie Roast passed to Charlie Hanmore who skipped inside the oncoming defender and sized up a curling right foot shot into the net to make it 3-0. Reward for the defensive lynchpins hard work in the last few weeks.
The new defensive combination of Charlie Hanmore/Jack Whitman and Tom Wray was working well as one of them always stayed back allowing the other to step out into midfield. This was also underpinned by an awesome midfield display from Ben Chesley in a new midfield enforcer role.
A fourth came courtesy of another midfield general - George Dennington - who latched onto a Tom Wray shot and smashed it into the Titan net on the volley. 4-0.
The referee blew his whistle and Titan were stunned as were Lions players and parents.
Half Time - Titan Tigers 0 Phoenix Lions 4
The second half started almost as the first finished, with Phoenix first to the ball and creating a number of opportunities.
Archie Roast notched his second of the game with a great solo effort after skipping round 2 or 3 Titan defenders and slotting home to make it 5-0.
More good work from Henry Powell up front then set up Jack Whitman to guide home number six.
James Ash, who had been trying to get onto his left foot all afternoon to have a crack at goal, got his chance to score from a free-kick which was awarded outside the Titan area. Phoenix's own Gareth Bale strolled up and promptly dispatched a left foot shot into the net for 7-0.
To their credit, Titan kept going and got a consolation back as the usual changes meant that the team lost its shape a bit and the defence was left 2 vs 3 for the first time all afternoon. Titan worked it well and made it 7-1.
Shortly afterwards and as time was running out, they grabbed another to make it 7-2 but just after the re-start, the referee blew his whistle for full time.
Full Time - Titan Tigers 2 Phoenix Lions 7
A brilliant display from Phoenix Lions, especially after taking a beating at the hands of the same team the previous week. They still have some top teams to play but they showed they can compete in the B league and can take confidence into the next few league games. They just need to remember to work hard and listen to the managers!
Come on you Phoenix!
