The Lions met Cheam Machine in the Senior Challenge Cup for the third season running and for the third time, fell to defeat against the Division 1 team, but it was oh, so close. One of the best Lions performances of the season wasn't enough to get us through to the second round, but the match will be remembered for a real collector's item: a Simon Drury goal!
Line-up:
Dorian (GK)
Kyle (RB), Simon (CB), Matt R (CB), Ollie (LB)
Richard (CM), JP (CM), Lee (CM)
Gary (RF), Scott (CF), Kevin (LF)
We started the better and there was very little to choose between the two teams. Kev, who had a storming game was finding space down the left and was combining well with Ollie. Chances were at a premium at both ends, though Dorian pulled off a smart save when one of their players bore down on a loose ball (aided by a blatant handball to keep it under control) and let of a shot that was palmed over.
We were closing them down well in the midfield and forcing errors, whilst playing some decent football of our own. Our first goal came from just such pressure when one of their defenders put a bit too much into a backpass to their keeper who was forced to make an acrobatic save, Kev who had been hounding the defender got onto the loose ball and finished well to put us into the lead.
That lead only lasted five minutes though as a failure to clear the ball downfield let them apply some sustained pressure on us. A couple of free kicks led to a couple of corners, the second of which was cleared out to the left side. We were too slow in closing down their player and the cross he put in was met with an unchallenged header and the ball ended up in the net.
Half time and we were buoyed by our good showing in the first 45, just mindful that we desperately wanted to avoid repeating our almost patented "drop-off" in performance in the second half. We knew if this happened it would be punished severely by a team with a 100% record in the top tier this season.
But we played like we did in the first half and reaped the rewards. Dorian kept the scores level by coming out well to deny their striker when he was through on goal. We then put together one of our best moves in ages to go ahead again. From their corner I think we got the ball up to Scott on the right who held the ball well before feeding Rich in the centre circle. The ball was worked to the other side of the pitch where Ollie flicked the ball into the path of Kev, who struck it first time into the roof of the oppo's net. It was a fantastic goal but the best was yet to come.
We had a corner from the left which the oppo couldn't clear but we couldn't work a clear opening for a shot. It might have been a ricochet or maybe Kris laid it off, but the ball came out to Simon on the right edge of the area and he arced the ball over the six yard box right into the top left corner. Second goal of the season contender of the game and it really made standing on the sidelines in the freezing cold worth it, just to say I'd seen Si score a peach of a goal.
Unfortunately, that's as good it got, as once again we let our opponents into a game after being on top and got punished for it. First we got caught out on our left with their player running onto the ball to finish past Dorian. Then we missed a chance to cut out a crossfield ball in the centre and Dorian got a bit unlucky with the final shot which he almost caught but it got through and just had enough to get over the line.
Their fourth came from us having the ball in their area, but Kris couldn't get a shot away and couldn't find Scott. They countered, breaking down our left and a low ball came in across the six yard box. Julian came in to intercept it ahead of their striker but he could only divert it (quite thunderously, it has to be said) into the roof of our net. We didn't really get a chance after this and they played keep ball to see out the win.
Although there's no shame in losing to the second place team in Division 1, they were there for the taking and it's so frustrating that when we are dominant against the better teams in the League, we don't press home our advantage and get the result we deserve. Still, at least Si's finally off the mark for the Lions!
