A disappointing end to the season as the Lions closed out the campaign with a loss to the second bottom side. In truth we would barely have deserved a point as we were second best in terms of commitment for much of the game.
Line up
Phil (GK)
Adam (RB), Simon (CB), Mike H (CB), Julian (LB)
JP (RM), Mark (CM), Mike G (LM)
Jon (RF), Lee (CF), Matt P (LF)
We were away in Chilworth as we couldn't get our home pitch and we'd already beaten this team 5-0 earlier in the season (it was our first win in fact) so maybe that played on our minds. Also their forward players were a heck of a lot better.
We started ok for the first few minutes without really threatening too much even though we were in the half quite a bit. We got a few shots at goal, but I don't remember the keeper having to make a save. At the other end I got clobbered in the head when I dived to intercept a low cross. Found out later that it was Julian's knee that I connected with and I've still got the lump two days later.
That may be why I can't remember much happening before our first goal (or maybe nothing did?) but it was a beauty. Free kick just outside the area in a central position. Mike G steps up and and sends it up over the wall and dipping beneath the cross bar beyond the keeper's flailing hand. One of the few direct free kicks we've scored from this season (we've tried it enough times) so hats off to Mike for getting it so right. We hadn't really earned the lead but we took it.
And then we threw it away. They came close beforehand with a low shot that hit the outside of the post. Their equaliser came from us losing possession in our half due to what seemed to everybody (on our side at least) like a blatant foul on Simon on the left touchline. Their player went through him to knock the ball on and with not a sound from the ref, the ball was worked down the line and a low cross put in. It was met with an admittedly quality touch to send it right into the top corner. We were a bit annoyed at the non-decision from the ref, but the goal had been coming. We weren't getting onto the ball from goal kicks and conceding too many fee kicks in our half.
That said we went ahead again, from another free kick taken by the other Mike (H) playing in his last game for the Lions before he heads off to the basement of the world for sunny Brisbane. He had a good game and got his name on the assists sheet when he launched the dead ball into their penalty area from the halfway line. Nobody followed it in except Lee who took advantage of the bounce that unsettled the keeper and stood his ground to bundle it into the goal.
We thought we'd lost the lead again before half time when yet another free kick around our area was headed in but the ref blew up for a foul in the area.
Didn't pay too much attention to Dave's half time talk a my head hurt too much but I think the gist of it was that it wasn't good enough.
We started the second half brightly and had a few good efforts on goal with Darren putting one just wide. However, they were putting us under a lot of pressure and we needed the 3rd goal to give us some breathing space. Sadly the next goal came from them with their striker bearing down on me then putting in a shot that I couldn't quite deflect enough.
I made a couple of saves, we had a few more shots, remember their keeper making a really good save from one of our guys. The winner came from the same player, again beating me one-on-one. We had another free kick and Mike G tried the same thing from the similar position, but this time it dipped a long way behind the goal.
So that's our season done and dusted. At this point we still don't know if we've got third place. Beating Chilworth would have guaranteed it but as it is, it depends on what the LDSFL committee decide about the Chessington Sports Reserves vs Chilworth game a couple of weeks back. This match was abandoned after one of the Sports player's parents started chasing a Chilworth player who had hit his son with an iron bar. All a bit crazy but although Chilworth were leading 2-1 at the time, the table has not been updated with the actual result. Sports have no more games to play so we may already have third place if the LDSFL go by the finishing scoreline. Will announce on these pages when I get the news.
Regardless, it has actually been a more successful season than last year. We got more points and more wins. We managed to win our first cup game and we've scored over 50 goals in the League alone, with only Esher outscoring us. We've put in some excellent performances over the last 9 months and been bolstered by the new additions to the team. We can always say what might have been but for the most part we did the best we could so we should take heart from this and whichever division we end up in, we should have the confidence to know that we can take on and beat any team we line up against.
COME ON LIONS!!!
