Post by chris eva on May 29, 2009 22:06:38 GMT
Well the crowd turned up for this final fixture of the season against champions Mortonville with high expectations of finishing the season on a high.
The match was played up on the plateau at willen road but with what seemed like a gale force wind it seemed that the two sides would struggle to come to terms with the elements, how wrong we were.
The teams played at times some exceptional football which was a credit to both coaches.
The game kicked off at such a fantastic pace and early on it was clear why Mortonville had run away with the league this year as they were controlling the early exchanges and the Lions were struggling to come to terms. Mortonville had so much possession in the first 10 minutes and Mason was forced into a great save after 3 minutes and then a Mortonville shot flashed wide 4 minutes after that.
In the 10th minute the Lions were starting to wake from their slumber and get a grip on the game. Shayne was looking very dangerous going forward with the pace he possesses and he gave the Mortonville stopper no chance as he burst through and the onion bag bulged.
1-0 Lions.
The game was now getting very competitive and there were some meaty challenges going in all round the park.
Mortonville were taken by surprise at the resilience of the young Lions and were now having to work extra hard to get back in to the game. The next 5 minutes were all Mortonvilles with scrambles and clearances in and around the lions area but with Jamie having the performance of his life and the central defensive master class of Oscar and Alex the frustration of Mortonville was all too evident.
Scott Leech at the beginning of the season was i think 3ft 4inchs tall and one of the smallest in the league, how ever he grew before our very eyes as the season progressed and was certainly not being intimidated by a very big and physical Mortonville outfit his philosophy today was 'thou shall not pass'.
Within the space of 5 minutes the Lions were dealt a hammer blow when both Alex and Joseph were forced off with separate injuries, Alex's injury was sustained as he was crudely taken out by the Mortonville midfielder.
One thing the Lions have had this year is very capable replacements all over the field so Lewis and Dylan slotted in to the plug the hole to an exceptional standard as always. The match was now developing into the titanic tussle we all knew it was going to be, Nathan was now becoming more and more vocal and encouraging his troops as best as he could with Scott Howkins normal busy self foraging for any loose scraps to feed on the Lions were matching the Mortonville outfit in all departments. Mason had a few minor scares in the half and was looking very assured and confident.
Half time Lions 1 Mortonville 0.
Second half gets under way with the Lions continuing where they left off and determined to hold on to this lead and maybe even add to it.
Scott Leech was as determined from the first whistle to the last to ensure his Lions finished on a high.
Oscar let the Mortonville forward know he was around in the 2nd minute of the half with a crunching tackle and Lewis defused the next attack with a superb challenge to force the Mortonville player to shoot wide.
Mason saved well in the next attack forcing a corner when pressurised by 2 Mortonville players.
The resulting corner saw Mortonville score what has to be said a deserved equaliser. The ball was cleared out of the penalty area only to be hammered back in with a superb strike by the full back which left Mason scrambling across his goal, and in fairness did well to even get a finger to the ball but couldn't keep out.
Lions 1 Mortonville 1.
The Lions continued to battle for every loose ball in every area of the field, Scott Leech was setting the example to the rest when he won a ball he had no right to win from the mammouth Mortonville number 8.
In the 15th minute of the half Mason lost his bearings when he made a great save, he was about to punt the ball upfield but was punished by the eagle eyed ref who saw him stray out side his box with the ball still in his hands.
The resulting free kick saw Oscar take one for the team when the resulting free-kick was struck with venom and power which left him rubbing his backside as though he had just been given the cane by an over zealous headmaster.
In the 47th minute disaster struck when uncertainty in the Lions defence lead to Mortonville taking the lead, scrambling the ball across the line.
Lions 1 Mortonville 2.
This was dig deep time for the Lions which to their credit they did by repelling everything that Mortonville had to offer and prove to everyone they could complete with the best in the league and try to preserve their un-beaten home record of the season.Dylan since his arival on transfer deadline day has gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed and today was no exception, he was immense. Mason made an excellent save 2 minutes from turning a shot over his bar with consummate ease.
From the resulting corner Scott Howkins carried the ball up field pace and with purpose, played a delightful ball to Aydan who in turn attacked the Mortonville goal with aggression and passion but was knocked of the ball just out side the penalty area just as he was getting set for a trademark thunderbolt. The referee blew the final whistle seconds later to bring down the curtain on what has to be said an OUTSTANDING season for the young Lions. Mortonville certainly knew they had been in a battle.
Final score Lions 1 Mortonville 2
Man of the match was Scott Leech who was an absolute inspiration.
If you had said to Darren or Kevin at the beginning of the season the Lions would end up 3rd in the league and lose a semi-final to the eventual league 1 champions they would have phoned the men in white suits to take you away.
The Lions might not have won any trophies this season but they have certainly won the respect of every team in the county and more importantly then can hold their heads up and say they gave their best.
Final League statistics:
Pld-16
Won- 8
Drew-5
Lost-3
Goals For- 55
Against -16
Bring on next season!
The match was played up on the plateau at willen road but with what seemed like a gale force wind it seemed that the two sides would struggle to come to terms with the elements, how wrong we were.
The teams played at times some exceptional football which was a credit to both coaches.
The game kicked off at such a fantastic pace and early on it was clear why Mortonville had run away with the league this year as they were controlling the early exchanges and the Lions were struggling to come to terms. Mortonville had so much possession in the first 10 minutes and Mason was forced into a great save after 3 minutes and then a Mortonville shot flashed wide 4 minutes after that.
In the 10th minute the Lions were starting to wake from their slumber and get a grip on the game. Shayne was looking very dangerous going forward with the pace he possesses and he gave the Mortonville stopper no chance as he burst through and the onion bag bulged.
1-0 Lions.
The game was now getting very competitive and there were some meaty challenges going in all round the park.
Mortonville were taken by surprise at the resilience of the young Lions and were now having to work extra hard to get back in to the game. The next 5 minutes were all Mortonvilles with scrambles and clearances in and around the lions area but with Jamie having the performance of his life and the central defensive master class of Oscar and Alex the frustration of Mortonville was all too evident.
Scott Leech at the beginning of the season was i think 3ft 4inchs tall and one of the smallest in the league, how ever he grew before our very eyes as the season progressed and was certainly not being intimidated by a very big and physical Mortonville outfit his philosophy today was 'thou shall not pass'.
Within the space of 5 minutes the Lions were dealt a hammer blow when both Alex and Joseph were forced off with separate injuries, Alex's injury was sustained as he was crudely taken out by the Mortonville midfielder.
One thing the Lions have had this year is very capable replacements all over the field so Lewis and Dylan slotted in to the plug the hole to an exceptional standard as always. The match was now developing into the titanic tussle we all knew it was going to be, Nathan was now becoming more and more vocal and encouraging his troops as best as he could with Scott Howkins normal busy self foraging for any loose scraps to feed on the Lions were matching the Mortonville outfit in all departments. Mason had a few minor scares in the half and was looking very assured and confident.
Half time Lions 1 Mortonville 0.
Second half gets under way with the Lions continuing where they left off and determined to hold on to this lead and maybe even add to it.
Scott Leech was as determined from the first whistle to the last to ensure his Lions finished on a high.
Oscar let the Mortonville forward know he was around in the 2nd minute of the half with a crunching tackle and Lewis defused the next attack with a superb challenge to force the Mortonville player to shoot wide.
Mason saved well in the next attack forcing a corner when pressurised by 2 Mortonville players.
The resulting corner saw Mortonville score what has to be said a deserved equaliser. The ball was cleared out of the penalty area only to be hammered back in with a superb strike by the full back which left Mason scrambling across his goal, and in fairness did well to even get a finger to the ball but couldn't keep out.
Lions 1 Mortonville 1.
The Lions continued to battle for every loose ball in every area of the field, Scott Leech was setting the example to the rest when he won a ball he had no right to win from the mammouth Mortonville number 8.
In the 15th minute of the half Mason lost his bearings when he made a great save, he was about to punt the ball upfield but was punished by the eagle eyed ref who saw him stray out side his box with the ball still in his hands.
The resulting free kick saw Oscar take one for the team when the resulting free-kick was struck with venom and power which left him rubbing his backside as though he had just been given the cane by an over zealous headmaster.
In the 47th minute disaster struck when uncertainty in the Lions defence lead to Mortonville taking the lead, scrambling the ball across the line.
Lions 1 Mortonville 2.
This was dig deep time for the Lions which to their credit they did by repelling everything that Mortonville had to offer and prove to everyone they could complete with the best in the league and try to preserve their un-beaten home record of the season.Dylan since his arival on transfer deadline day has gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed and today was no exception, he was immense. Mason made an excellent save 2 minutes from turning a shot over his bar with consummate ease.
From the resulting corner Scott Howkins carried the ball up field pace and with purpose, played a delightful ball to Aydan who in turn attacked the Mortonville goal with aggression and passion but was knocked of the ball just out side the penalty area just as he was getting set for a trademark thunderbolt. The referee blew the final whistle seconds later to bring down the curtain on what has to be said an OUTSTANDING season for the young Lions. Mortonville certainly knew they had been in a battle.
Final score Lions 1 Mortonville 2
Man of the match was Scott Leech who was an absolute inspiration.
If you had said to Darren or Kevin at the beginning of the season the Lions would end up 3rd in the league and lose a semi-final to the eventual league 1 champions they would have phoned the men in white suits to take you away.
The Lions might not have won any trophies this season but they have certainly won the respect of every team in the county and more importantly then can hold their heads up and say they gave their best.
Final League statistics:
Pld-16
Won- 8
Drew-5
Lost-3
Goals For- 55
Against -16
Bring on next season!