Lions Tamed by Strikers Power Play

This was not going to be easy. The Lions done us over 3-2 at their manor and we wuz feeling well aggrieved. But the tables don’t lie (un-offically and non-competitively, of course) and without our game in hand the Lions could leapfrog us into second place. At least it was a glorious day. The sun was shining and all was well with the world until the Lions started shooting practice. Crikey, they look deadly. No wonder they had already notched up 67 goals this season. Then I remembered we’ve scored 106 and felt much better !

The team lines up with Ed in goal, Joe and Mark at the back, Alex and Matty P in midfield and Jake spearheading the attack. Our early pressure win a corner but the ball is cleared. Then Jake, on a mazy dribble, leaves two lions on the floor and beats a third but his cross is cleared away. 

Good pressure from NST leads to a free kick on the edge of the box. Jake lines it up and feigns a shot but crosses and the pass is converted by Alex. 1-0 to NST. Oh yeah, Baby !

Then hardly has the game re-started when a piece of solo magic is worked by Alex as he brings the ball under control on the edge of the box beats his man and slots the ball coolly to make it 2-0 to NST. Now we’re cooking with gas. A quick check over at Duncan - but there are no Rafa-esque gestures of contempt. So the game ain’t over yet. 

The boys are steaming ahead though. More pressure out on the right with good work from Jake and Alex. We win a throw in. Jake takes, Mark plays it back out wide where Alex pumps it into the box. It’s headed on towards the back post where Matty P is lurking un-marked and he has the simplest of tasks to volley left footed into the empty net. The Strikers lead 3-0 but still no hand gestures from the gaffer....

Some more fantastic footwork by Jake out on the right wing. He drives in a cross deflected off a defender and saved at the near post by the goalie. Nothing comes from the corner, but the Lions launch an attack. Mark clears the ball well but Cherry Hinton stung by the ease with which NST are bossing the game, fight back regaining possession in midfield. A red-shirted striker unleashes a stinging left foot strike from distance which brings a brilliant acrobatic save from Ed - that must have broken a few Lionhearts ! 

From their corner we launch a brilliant counter attack. Jake surges forward with ball, then plays it out wide for Joe on the left wing. Joe takes the ball to the corner flag and then pulls it back to Matty P who beats his man, brings the ball infield and is unlucky to see his shot drift just wide of the post. A few seconds later Matty watches another venomous strike veer just past the post. Surely there are more goals to come in this game?

Cherry Hinton continue to probe but Mark and Joe are in commanding form at the back and are largely untroubled having the measure of the Lions’ forwards.

Q2 - Alex goes into goal. Oliver, George and Matty S are brought on. The new team are soon into their stride. George breaks down a Lions’ attack and Joe feeds the ball out to Oliver in the centre circle. Despite the attentions of three opponents, Oliver passes brilliantly back to Joe who has made a dynamic run down the wing. Joe crosses into the box where Matty S and Oliver are queuing up to score. Matty S slots it home with his right foot to make it 4-0 to the Strikers. That was a quality move, probably the best in the match. Duncan is purring like a cat that’s got the cream!

The Strikers are cruising now and the opportunities are coming thick and fast. Joe playing on the right now is having possibly one of his best games and has a couple of great shots denied by the fantastic Lions’ goalie (This game would already be out of sight if it wasn’t for him.) Oliver is looking threatening as he hunts down that elusive first goal. Even as we look for our fifth goal the Lions are still seeking to inflict damage of their own.  A wicked snap shot comes off our bar, hits the post and is hooked away to safety by Matty S (gulp!). The gods are wearing white kit today.... Meanwhile down the other end, Joe and Oliver break at speed. Joe slips the ball through to Oliver. He must score! But somehow the goalie saves (again !) and the rebound is pummeled over the bar. The Lions keeper can’t work miracles though and a few moments later Oliver gets his reward at last, pinging the ball in off the post to make it 5-0 to the Strikers.

This is followed up by a fantastic dribble by Joe who picks up possession by his own corner flag and takes the ball the length of the pitch before selflessly teeing it up for Matty S in front of goal. Somehow the Lions keeper diverts this just past the post. We should sign him up for next season! Soon after Matty S gets another chance on the edge of the box after some more good work by Joe, but he pings the ball just past the post.

Q3/4 - Duncan mixes up the formation again and we’re off. But the Lions remain buoyant despite the deficit and and continue to press us. As they make yet another counter attack they finally get the ball beyond our goalie but Matty P having run back into defence (I know how improbable that sounds - but credit where it’s due!) clears off the line. Phew! NST are invincible today! Then as more pressure is piled on Alex breaks down the attack and plays the ball to Matty P. Matty spurts through midfield trying to find an angle to play in Jake. But the pass isn’t on and he unleashes a crashing drive to the top corner reminiscent of Xavi Alonso. But the keeper is amazing and tips it round the post. (Sign him Duncan !)

Then - finally - Cherry Hinton get some reward from their endeavour. They drive down our left and cross the ball into the box where their unmarked centre forward is at last able to slot the ball under Joe’s dive. And the scorer certainly knows how to celebrate! 5-1 to NST.

We are soon back down the other end and normal service is resumed as Oliver snaps up his second goal of the afternoon with a wicked shot into the roof of the net making it 6-1. There is still time for one last retort from the Lions when they clear the ball and their left winger sprints free to smash the ball unerringly past Joe. That was a cracking finish. A good job it was too late to count for much. So we end up with a 6-2 victory to the Strikers against some class opposition.

A terrific game played with great spirit and gusto by both sides, but in the end a deserved victory for the Strikers. 

Squad: Alex, Joe, Ed, Jake, Matty S, Mark, Matty P, Oliver

Scorers: Alex (2), Oliver (2), Matty S (1), Matty P (1)

 

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