After a hard earned excellent cup victory last weekend, Phoenix Lions were back in league action this week against Ebbsfleet White.
Kick Off
With Euan Corbett-Smith away, James Ash was moved to left back alongside Charlie Hanmore and Jai Carter. Ben Chesley and George Dennington occupied centre midfield with Oscar Hart and Archie Roast out wide. Jack Whitman ploughed the loan striker role with Henry Powell and Tom Wray starting on the bench.
Phoenix started well, playing some good football but unable to make it count.
They dominated play for 20 minutes as Ebbsfleet struggled to find a way into the game.
However, as football often goes, having dominated play, Lions fell behind to a classic but controversial breakaway goal. With Lions playing a high line, the ball was played through and the Ebbsfleet winger looked offside. However, the linesman was not up with play and failed to raise his flag. To his credit, it was a tidy finish by the Ebbsfleet man to make it 0-1.
Phoenix were not behind for long though as a set piece bought dividends. Tom Wray – now off the bench – floated in an excellent corner and Oscar Hart found himself with time to volley a neat finish into the corner. 1-1
The rest of the half remained even until Ebbsfleet went in front again. After they found themselves in on goal, Josh Anderson make 2 point blank saves followed up by 2 or 3 blocked shots from the defence. However, they failed to clear their lines and Ebbsfleet scrambled home for 1-2.
Half Time - Phoenix Lions 1 Ebbsfleet White 2
The break seemed to drain the Lions as they started the second half poorly and found themselves further behind.
The usual philosophy of playing the ball out from the back was not a wise one against a team who were more physical, a bit sharper and with Phoenix leaving a big gap between defence and midfield. It allowed Ebbsfleet to close the ball down and put immediate pressure on the back 4.
Twice in quick succession they closed down, broke well and played in to make it 1-4.
Jack Whitman then had a goal disallowed and Henry Powell was trying to make things happen to no avail.
Ebbsfleet were hungrier but also getting away with blatant fouling including one incident where Archie Roast had his shirt virtually torn from his back and Ben Chesley was kicked off the ball which the referee did not spot.
In an attempt to change the balance of play, Henry Powell went into defence and Charlie Hanmore went up front. It paid immediate dividends as Charlie nearly side stepped 3 Ebbsfleet defenders before slotting into the net for 2-4.
Charlie was then clean through on goal and into the box with only the keeper to beat when he was pushed from behind. Cries of penalty fell on deaf ears from the referee who waved play on much to the disgust of the Phoenix parents. A more blatant penalty you won’t have seen this weekend.
With their frustration showing, Phoenix were caught out for a final time as Ebbsfleet made it 2-5 right at the death.
Full Time – Phoenix Lions 2 Ebbsfleet White 5
Not one of the better afternoons for the Lions. Having played well for 20 minutes they found themselves outfought and well beaten in the end. Not helped by some poor decisions from linesman and referee but everything they did well the week before – tackling, playing as a team, communication – seemed to desert them today.
Work to be done in the 2 training sessions before the next game...
Come on you Lions!
