Lions travelled to the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard for an away game against the current leaders of the U11 Event 3 Vase Cup, Leighton United Vixens. The home side, undefeated in their first 4 games, looked confident in the warm-up, creating some early nervous tension amongst the away fans.
The game started with both teams scrapping for the ball in the middle of the park. Each finding it difficult to judge their passes right on the small pitch. Lions were first to attack with Heidi working the ball well down the right, fighting off a Leighton defender by the corner flag. The winger managed to dig out a cross that almost snuck in over the keeper’s head.
Leighton advanced themselves. A neat through ball split the Lions’ defence but Lauren was ready with a clear shout, collecting the ball from the edge of her box.
Two consecutive headers from Georgia and Sienna kept the ball away from danger and set the tone of Lions’ game – a strong, determined performance.
Tehila was soon in on the action, breaking away with the ball. Her superb dribbling created the space for a shot which was saved by the Leighton keeper. Moments later, it was Leighton’s turn to strike. Having made some rare space, the shot was fired but equally matched by the Lions’ super shot-stopper, Lauren – today’s player of the match.
It didn’t take long for Leighton to be on the front foot again. But the outstretched foot of Sienna made a last ditch block, preventing the shot. Leighton came once again. This time Sienna slipped as she turned to chase the ball down. Fortunately, Evelyn was on hand to cover, collecting the ball and moving it forward to halt the attack.
Amber collected the ball out on the left. Having skipped past one midfielder, she left the ball to her teammate, Tehila. But the striker had already made her run into the box anticipating a cross. The rare miscommunication between the pair brought the positive move to an early end.
Heidi and Tehila worked the ball well down the right. Their 1-2 passes creating the space for a shot. But again, the Leighton keeper was able to make a strong save.
Georgia stood strong to block a midfield run, and Evelyn followed it up with some great closing down by the Lions’ corner flag, forcing the ball away for a corner.
Late in the half, Heidi collected the ball out wide right. Another superb 1-2 with Tehila resulted in a shot on the edge of the Leighton box. Again the keeper made the save, but Tehila was the quickest to react, scoring at the second attempt.
Flo entered the field of play and made an instant menace of herself. Pressuring the Leighton defence into a misplaced pass that landed at Heidi’s feet on the half way line. A quick pass inside to Georgia was swiftly switched out wide to Amber. Her first touch created the space for a shot. Whilst it didn’t result in a goal, it was a move that showed the real quality of the Lions.
Flo and Heidi combined well by the home team’s corner flag, but the ball just ran away off the pitch before the cross could come.
Leighton United were determined to finish the half with something and made several advances in the dying minutes of the half. Aria worked hard, putting in a strong challenge followed by a second moments later, to keep the home side away from the Lions’ penalty area. However, the breakaway did finally come when the Leighton forward shot a fierce strike at goal. However, Lauren dived at full stretch to her left to make a stunning save ensuring the Lions ended the half with the one goal advantage.
Leighton started the second half strongly. A fast counter attack was blocked by Sienna, before Georgia made an important block to thwart a short corner. Another strong shot was well saved by Lauren. The pressure was starting to mount. But relief came in the form of a wonder strike from Tehila. Amber intercepted the ball and played a quick pass inside to Tehila. Her resulting strike was unstoppable and gave Lions the breathing space they needed.
Once again the passing between the Lions offensive and defensive players was a treat to watch. Whilst the home team’s tactics appeared to be straight from Sam Allardyce’s coach’s notebook, playing the long ball whenever possible, the away team passed and moved the ball from back to front with style and grace.
Lions’ 3rd was another example of a wonderful team goal. This time Sienna worked the ball forward to Amber, who played a quick 1-2 with Tehila to move the ball around the Leighton midfield. A square ball from Amber found Heidi on the edge of the box who calmly, but confidently struck home to finish a superb move.
Tehila almost made it 4 when a scramble in the box landed at Amber’s feet. Her pass back to Tehila was struck well, but just over the bar.
Leighton finally got themselves on the scoreboard after a decent strike from the edge of the box sailed just over Lauren’s outstretched arm. The away fans were relieved to see another strike in the final seconds roll just wide of the post. However, to the travelling fans dismay a corner was awarded. The ball was whipped in, and despite being cleared away, fell to a Leighton player on the edge of the box. Her fierce strike was unstoppable.
With the score 2-3, and the Lions looking tired having battled so bravely for 60 minutes, the home coach felt the tide was about to turn. The clock ticked on… Leighton pressed…Lions defended with the courage of a team beyond their years. The clock ticked on… We had clearly entered Fergie time. Leighton continued to press. The clock ticked on…
Clearly nobody had told the home side that if you try to kick a lion when it is down, God help you when it gets up! A long throw from Sienna over the top of the Leighton midfield found Tehila in space down the left wing. A determined dribble saw her squeeze between the last defender and the byline before smashing the ball into the back of the net. Miraculously, the clock ticked on… It took a final lob from Heidi that sailed over the keeper making it 2-5 for the ref to finally blow his whistle.
To quote coach Robin – I have nothing more to say about the game…the players did all the talking this morning.
