First Half
On a beautiful sunny afternoon, but on a tiny pitch, the game started scrappily and would probably have suited an 8 a side game much better.
In the 5th minute after some good battling in the midfield, Tom Saunders played the ball wide to James Sanford and James’ shot went just wide of the right hand post – this was to be James last action of the game as he twisted his ankle and was replaced by Wade Reeve.
Just after Wade’s introduction the ball fell to him in the box, but his shot was well saved by the keeper and it rebounded back off the post and was cleared for a corner by the defender. Straight from the corner Chris Fulcher shot wide and in another attack directly from the goal kick, Levi Simon broke free, but his lob just sneaked wide after leaving the Red Lodge keeper stranded.
The Lions were really on top by now and in the 18th minute Tom Saunders met a corner from Wade Reeve that slammed against the bar, rebounding to Usama Akkouche whose shot hit a defender on the line and went off for the Lions 10th corner of the game. Cameron Scarr was making some good headers out of defence and looked very organised with Usama in the centre of defence.
Ronan Pike-Burke hit his shot wide after 25 minutes, after some great play down the left by Ellis Jewell and Levi Simon and soon after, Tom Saunders had yet another good shot saved by the Red Lodge keeper, who was having a very busy afternoon in between the sticks.
On 34 minutes, Chris Fulcher won a free kick about 25 yards out and Levi Simon stepped up to hit a good low shot that took a slight deflection on its way into to the back of the Red Lodge net. Red Lodge 0-1 Lions
At the half time break the Lions were just ahead, but the small pitch, goals and a very good performance from the Red Lodge keeper kept the score low.
Half Time - Red Lodge 0-1 Lions
Second Half
The earliest move of the 2nd move involved Ronan Pike-Burke and Jordan Charnley and it was Ronan, who did not give up on the through ball, who found the ball at his feet with the keeper and defender confused. Ronan tucked the ball neatly away to increase the gap with only 2 minutes of the half gone.
Red Lodge 0-2 Lions
On 39 minutes a a through ball found the Lions defence sleeping and an indecision allowed the Red Lodge attacker to sneak in and slide the ball under Vinish Bhuva to close the gap again. Red Lodge 1-2 Lions
The Lions had slightly taken their ‘foot off the pedal’ and it took another goal in the 48th minute in similar circumstances to ‘wake them up’ and to realise that the game was there to be won. Red Lodge 2-2 Lions
In the 50th minute Ashley Dale worked hard to win the ball and he hit a very good shot that was deflected and Ellis Jewell hit a very hard strike into the top of the net to put the lions in front again and looking much more in control.
Red Lodge 2-3 Lions
Only 2 minutes later Ashley saw his right foot shot hit the side netting after a good one two with Ellis and Jordan Charnley put in an excellent cross that was met by Wade Reeve, but not converted.
On 55 minutes Ashley Dale and Ellis Jewell combined well again as Ellis back heeled the ball to Ashley, but his shot kept rising to just clear the Red Lodge bar. Only seconds later, Dominic Ford played a lovely through ball to Ellis and he weaved through two defenders and hit a very true shot, leaving the Red Lodge keeper with no chance. Red Lodge 2-4 Lions
The Lions had reorganised after the two goals that they let in against the run of play and they were really in command now with every attack resulting in a corner or a good save from the Red Lodge keeper. The Lions defence looked solid and Dominic Ford, Liam Fox-Teece, Tom Saunders and Levi Simon were communicating well and also linking up with midfield four of Chris Fulcher, Wade Reeve, Matthew Auker and Jordan Charnley to really put the Red Lodge back four under pressure.
With 7 minutes to go, Matthew Auker picked the ball up in the centre of midfield and his 20 yard chipped pass found Chris Fulcher onside and alone. Chris made no mistake with his well executed lob over the Advancing keeper to make the game safe for the Lions. Red Lodge 2-5 Lions
The Lions played out the remaining few minutes in total control of the game and the whole squad again contributed to a very good win.
Final Score – Red Lodge 2-5 Lions
Well played to all the boys on an awkward and very tiny pitch. Let’s build on the workrate that we showed after letting in the two goals against the run of play and if we all work on our ‘meeting the ball’ and winning ‘the first ball’ we will succeed in achieving a higher placing than we finished last season.
Match report by Mick Jewell
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