One of those games which left many Lions players wondering how on Earth we managed to lose. The answer's simple mathematics: they had few chances but scored most of them; we had loads of chances but didn't score any.
Line-up:
Paige (GK)
Julian (RB), Simon (CB), Danny (CB), Ollie (LB)
Nathan (CM), JP (CM), Lee (CM)
Gregg (RF), Scott (CF), Gary (LF)
This was the first part of a double header and we were well up for getting maximum points from the afternoon to get our title bid back on track. Or so we thought. The opening few minutes set the tone as we looked a little nervy at the back and we weren't putting away decent chances up front. We conceded a free kick to our left just inside our half and the ball in was deep enough to cause a breakdown in communication between Simon and Paige. It ended up with the former heading the ball past the latter for the opening goal. We then conceded when their left winger got a cross in that their striker managed to put away first time. In between, another cross/shot pinged off the cross bar as Paige looked on. At the other end, we couldn't buy a goal. Gregg hit a couple over the bar, and efforts from Gary and Scott also failed to test the keeper.
After a few rants at half time, we started the second half much better. We were definitely on top in terms of possession and attacking threat, but we just couldn't get the final ball or shot right. We did seem to be getting closer, though and Gregg was extremely unlucky to see a carefully placed shot strike the post. However, it just wasn't going in and after the domination and hard work, we needlessly conceded a third when Julian inexplicably tried to control a ball in the penalty area whilst facing his own goal. The ball was taken off his foot and blasted high past Paige. It was simply one of those games and summed up by a goalmouth scramble at the oppo's end which ended with Scott missing a squared ball from a few yards out. Though Paige kept the scoreline semi-respectable by making a couple of good saves, it was all too reminiscent of our only other defeat in the League against Bookham. There too, we dominated possession and had the majority of the chances, but ended up walking away with nothing.
To put it into perspective though, this was only the second game out of 23 that we had failed to score in this season. And at least there was chance in the second game to make amends.
