After a few weeks off, Lions were back at the Lions’ Den for a home match against last season’s U11 Event 3 – Trophy runners up, Willen Coyotes.
Lions looked up to the challenge from the off and some early press saw Heidi making a darting run as she attempted to latch onto a through ball, but she was just pipped to it by the Willen keeper. Moments later Heidi was in on the action again as she received the ball out wide right from Bella. Despite turning her marker well, she couldn’t quite get the cross off. But it was another promising attack from the Lions.
Willen looked strong and were soon on the front foot, but Georgia was quick to break down the attack. It was then Kiera’s turn to put in a tough challenge to thwart another Willen advance and when at last it finally seemed they had broken the Lions’ lines, Sienna swept across the back at lightning speed, robbing the attacker and clearing the ball away.
Willen were forced into playing longer balls from outside the penalty area, but Lauren was well positioned on the edge of her box to collect an ambitious through ball. Despite Lions’ strong start, it was Willen who struck first. A lobbed shot dipped in under the bar giving the away side the lead.
Lions were soon on the attack again, this time down the left wing. Amber twisted and turned her defender, but couldn’t quite break away to make the cross. Communication on the pitch was superb today. The players were constantly talking to one-another – like when captain Georgia instructed her teammates to find a player during a Willen corner.
Some quality link-up play between Tehila, Bella and Heidi resulted in a good shot well saved by Heidi, after Tehila had initially chased down the defender and won the ball just outside the opposition’s box. More strong link-up play followed, this time between Georgia and Amber resulting in a decent cross that was cleared away by the Willen back line.
Lions were awarded a free kick for an offside which was taken quickly by Georgia. The midfielder played a wonderful ball through the middle of the Willen defence which was pounced upon by Bella. Her initial shot was saved by the keeper, but there was no stopping her second attempt.
Willen gave Lions no time to celebrate and were soon driving forward. However, Olivia, who had tracked back from an attacking position, was able to make the tackle and avert danger, before Freya made a big clearance up the pitch. Much like a game of tennis, it was Lions’ turn to break away with Bella, Amber and Tehila combining well down the left. Tehila got her shot off, but the post prevented the goal. Tehila had her shooting boots on again moments later, this time her effort skimming over the bar. Bella and Flo combined well in the centre of the pitch, with some intricate passing around the Willen midfield, and when the move broke down, Flo was quick to track back and put a foot in to force the ball out for a throw-in.
However, Willen were to have the last word before the break when a speedy break away down their left found their striker in the middle of the box who calmly fired past the Lions’ keeper, making the score 1-2 going into halftime. Willen were also quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and an important block was needed by Kiera to stop their attack.
But it wasn’t long before the score was even again, after a corner from Heidi found Amber on the edge of the Willen box. The Lions winger fired the ball back into the penalty area and the rebound found Bella in the middle of the goal. The resulting shot fizzing past the helpless keeper. Two more goals for Lions came within two minutes. The first for Bella, after some neat 1-2 passing with Amber enabled the attacking midfielder to power through into the box, hitting home her third of the match. The second scored by Tehila after Bella had jumped high with the keeper, causing her to fumble the ball into the path of the Lions striker, who smashed it into the back of the net making it 4-2 to the home side.
Despite nearly 50 minutes of football, Lions weren’t done yet. After some superb defending, the ball found its way to Tehila just inside the touchline on the left side of the pitch. Her ambitious shot sailed over the Willen substitute keeper, bringing the game to its conclusion. The ‘pride’ of Linslade is back!
This week’s player of the match: Georgia.
