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Match Report

Lions 1 v Finchampstead La Coruna 4

Well so far, the gales have failed to show in full force but the rain has certainly come. Last week we were all freezing cold, this week the Lions were cold and wet. Probably the worst combination but great football weather!

The Lions boasted their biggest squad of the season with Joe (Buzz), Dylan (capt), Sam (Sauce), Ollie, Jack, James, Digger, Toby, Hope and recent signing Libby. Josh was representing the Tigers against his old club, Caversham Trents with a point to prove!

Finch had 8 players so both managers agreed to field 8 v 8 leaving Lions with two subs. Hope and Libby started as subs as both missed last week's match.

Straight from the kick off, Finch burst through the Lions defence and went one nil up. This looked ominous for the shocked Lions players and fans, in fact one fan demanded his money back but then remembered this was a 'no ticket' friendly.

This is the part where I usually write rather than give up, the Lions bounced straight back and took the game to their opponents'. Unfortunately, there's only so much 'artist free licence' I can get away with and it would be fair to say this wasn't the Lions best day. The game was supposed to be the first whereby the Lions players started playing to positions but by strange coincidence, they did the exact opposite apart from Joe in goal.

Finch had the vast majority of possession and soon made this count with a second goal. Joe having no chance again. With 5 minutes remaining in the first half, the Lions started to play a bit. Another superb long kick from Joe and Jack's pace took him past the Finch defence where he netted his first of the season. A couple more attacks from the Lions and they went in to halftime the more confident side. Halftime 1-2 to Finch.

The halftime interval saw Hope and Libby go home, both feeling the cold, the injured Toby replace Joe in goal, Jack stay on the sidelines with a knee injury and Digger in tears as his mum forgot his drink! Claire, you would never catch me doing that. (Ok, every training session pretty much L)

In the second half, the Finch number 7 was trying his best to win the ball but his timing was slightly out. A few freekicks later and Finch kindly took him from the field of play. (Thanks, the Lions appreciated this gesture.) In between half time and the Finch substitution, Digger slipped whilst taking a throw and had to leave the game injured. With Dylan also picking up a knock, the Lions management team were looking around for Florence Nightingale to turn up and help out! The team really were the walking wounded now!

With the cold, wet and reduced numbers finally gaining the upper hand, the Lions conceded two more goals to give Finch a deserved 4-1 victory. However, they're a nice bunch and we would certainly like to play them again in the New Year.

As with every friendly, there followed a post match penalty shoot out. Yet again, the Lions put on a show with some good penalties, notably from Ollie, Toby, Joe and Dylan. Toby's prowess in goal saw him save most and help Lions to a penalty shoot out victory. Overall, 1 game apiece.

Football is a game played in all sorts of conditions and this game showed who likes the rain and who doesn't. Me, I don't like it! J

Next week, I'll skip the friendly and go straight to the penalty shoot out!

MOTM Sam Sawyers

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