The Lions lost an early lead to slump to their second home defeat of the season. Two goals in almost as many minutes from Reigate in the first half and a bizarre own goal in the second, were enough to leave the Lions still looking for their first home win of the season.
Line up:
Paige (GK)
Adam (RB), Matt (CB), Julian W (CB), Dale (LB)
Kevin (RM), Ollie (CM), Danny (CM), Jon (CM), Gary (LM)
Richard B (CF)
We were left waiting for ages in the unseasonably hot October sun waiting for the opposition to turn up. At the allotted kick off time of 10.30, they only had 5 players at the ground and it wasn't until 10.50 that we managed to get the game underway, but the Lions started it in fine style with a goal inside the first few minutes.
Dale latched onto the ball on our left and fed a pass through to Gary. He got through to the edge of the area and placed a deft lob over the keeper into the far corner. At that moment we looked the better team, but the tide soon turned.
Their lone striker proved a handful all match and for Matt in particular. We got our first warning of his danger when he managed to keep hold of the ball with his back to goal for what seemed like an age, despite Matt's attentions, before firing off a cross in front of goal that his mate inside the six yard area all on his own, only just failed to connect with.
Reigate got their first goal through the same striker doing the same thing; only he managed to get a shot off this time, which just crept past the scrambling Paige. Within a few minutes, they were ahead when the striker managed to outpace Matt to a through ball and slotted it past the onrushing Paige.
Aside from that, we actually defended ok for the most part, but we seemed unable to get the ball down and move it around in midfield. Too often the ball was being won by their midfielders in the air and for a long period in the first half, we were pinned back in our half. It wasn't until the latter stages that we started putting any meaningful attacks together. Gary tried another lob which didn't quite come off and was then put through on goal but his flick shot went the wrong side of the post. Richard had a wild shot that went high and wide but came closer with an overhead kick from a tight angle, with the ball looping over the keeper before bouncing off the top of the bar.
In the second half, we started to get into the game more and put more pressure on their midfield. We were looking more of a threat going forwards, but weren't creating many clear-cut chances. Reigate weren't creating that much either in the early second half exchanges, but unfortunately they didn't need to as their third goal was an absolute gift.
Dorian came on for Richard and switch to Left back with Dale moving up to midfield and Jon going out to the wing. Ball came over the top and Dorian's first task was to chase it down and head it back in the general direction of Paige as he was coming out. "General direction" being the key phrase here as somehow, the ball eluded Paige completely and bounced and rolled inexorably into the empty net. It was an absolute sucker punch and although heads went down, the Lions still rallied to try to themselves back in the game.
We went close when a free kick (by Julian?) into the area evaded everybody except Jon arriving at the far post but he managed to guide the ball over the bar instead of below it. Kris had a couple of off-target shots coming in from the right and Ollie went on a great, mazy little run but his final shot span just wide of the upright. Dale had an effort that forced the keeper down low to make a save, but our attacks were all too sporadic and lacked real pressure.
At the other end, Matt made a superb last ditch tackle to take the ball away from Reigate's two goal hero in the penalty area and foiled him again when he looked certain to score with a well timed block on his shot. Reigate threatened from a number of corners but the Lions were able to deal with those comfortably enough.
The final score was probably a little harsh on the Lions, but the inability to make the most of the good start counted against us.
