The Lions have reached the quarter final of a cup for the first time in their short history, following our victory over Double H on a cold, fog-ridden morning. The team gave an excellent performance against a side that turned up late and with only 10 players, but whom we knew to be a quality outfit having come out honours even against them in 3 encounters last season.
Line-up:
Paige (GK)
Dale (RB), Matt (CB), Simon (CB), Julian (LB)
Lee M (CM), Ollie (CM), JP (CM)
Kris (RF), Scott (CF), Gary (LF)
The first half was actually fairly even with the disparity of numbers on the field not immediately evident by7 any means. The oppo moved the ball well and always looked in danger of getting behind our defence, but we were very solid at the back today. Simon kept their lone striker very quiet for most of the game and there was only time when Paige had to extend himself. One of their guys managed to get through one-on-one and Paige got a good block in to deny the shot.
At the other end, we really didn't create much to be honest. We seemed to be rushing things in midfield, trying little flick-ons to get an attack going, when we would have been better off just holding onto the ball and picking the pass out. A lot of attacks broke down because we couldn't get the ball to feet and we made life difficult for ourselves by losing possession and inviting the counter-attacks. The very few shots we did manage to get away in the first half, were by and large weak efforts that failed to stretch the keeper.
We went in at 0-0 and knew the game was there for the taking, we just had to improve on what had been letting us down in that first half. And we did just that within a few minutes of the restart. The ball was won in midfield by Ollie, who got a pass out to Gary on the left. He managed to get past their right-back (the two of them had a right battle all game as they were equally matched in height, pace, skill and aggression!) and squared the ball to Scott but slightly behind him. Scott managed to hold onto the ball though and with his back to goal, laid it off to Kris approaching from the right who hit a first time shot low under the keeper.
Kris could have completed a hat-trick within the next few minutes as he had another shot come off the bottom of the post after a cross from Gary down the left. Gary put in another cross which Kris got to at the near post, and almost turned in, but it was somehow scrambled away by the defender for a corner.
Scott could have got the second goal when he was put clean through on goal, but the keeper got hands to the ball when Scott tried to pass the ball underneath him. The second eventually came when Scott, from the halfway line, picked out a lovely through ball to Gary on the left. After being flagged offside on numerous occasions in the first half, he finally got the benefit of the doubt and found himself all clear with just the keeper to beat. He coolly rounded the keeper and slotted in a simple finish.
Double H weren't done though and they took advantage of a period of uncertainty in the Lions' defence to grab one back. A corner came in that wasn't dealt with and someone lashed out a leg to put the ball in from a couple of yards out. Our response, whilst not immediate, was still the killer blow in the tie. Matt got the ball clear of our half on his second attempt to the midfield and the ball went out to Kev. He went on a run down the left and squared the ball nicely for Scott who was all on his own in the penalty area. This time he guided the ball into the bottom left corner with the keeper well beaten.
The oppo were reduced to wild shots that never threatened the goal and we had more chances with their keeper making some decent saves to keep his team barely in it. The final word however went to Kyle. JP caused a comedy moment when he asked the ref for a sub, and Kyle rushed on all changed, only for JP to tell him that he actually meant for Kevin to come on instead. Maybe that stoked some fire in Kyle's belly as he played like a demon when he came on, shouldering defenders off the ball and getting a cracker of a goal.
Another great Lions move saw the ball lofted over the top to Scott running down the left, who pulled off an admittedly impressive back heel flick that completely wrong-footed their defence. The ball came to Ollie's feet and he passed it right for Kyle to run onto. Kyle's first touch seemed to take it too far towards the onrushing keeper, but he made up the ground and lashed the ball into the top right corner. to seal our second Cup win in two weeks.
Next up is Cheam Machine, who are also from the division above us. This is already our best run in a cup competition and based on the past few performances, we're more than capable of keeping this story going.
