Having no official game this weekend, Lions invited Woburn and Wavendon Clarets back to the Lion’s Den for a friendly.
Woburn started the game strongly and had a few chances early on. Lauren had to be quick to the edge of her box to collect the ball several times in the first few minutes to prevent a shot on goal. When Woburn thought they had broken through the back line, Sienna was quick to make up the distance and clear the ball away. Moments later, some thoughtful covering from Freya was needed to prevent a 1 on 1 with the keeper.
At last Lions were able to attack with a great forward pass from Georgia to Bella. But the powerful Woburn defenders were quick to make the tackle. Next it was Evelyn’s turn to thread a well timed pass through to Bella, but again the Woburn defence stood strong. Finally Olivia was able to break through on goal but the ball fell to her weaker foot and she wasn’t able to strike the ball with as much power as she’d have liked, making it a comfortable save for the keeper.
Moments later, some quick reactions from Olivia enabled her to snatch the ball away from the defender, but she was well challenged before getting her shot away. Some lovely link-up play between Bella and Olivia created another opportunity for the Lions striker. Her shot was well struck, but just wide of the post.
Now it was Woburn’s turn to attack, and it required a strong save by Lauren to prevent a long range shot from going in. Woburn continued to press but the ball was well cleared by Freya before a strong challenge by Georgia in the middle of the park broke up the play.
Moments later, Woburn were through 1 on 1 with the keeper, but Lauren stood up strong and made another fantastic save to prevent the goal.
Lions broke away with a powerful run by Amber down the left. Her ball inside found Flo who was able to turn and pass the ball onto Heidi. But the Woburn defence were quick to regroup and made the challenge. Lions came again. This time it was Bella who received a neat pass from Amber to take the ball around the right back. A sharp pass across the box found Heidi who almost got her shot off, but again the Woburn defence made the all-important block. At last, Lions’ perseverance paid off when Amber’s cross to Heidi on the edge of the box was passed inside to Bella, who managed to twist her defender and riffle a shot into the back of the net.
After the half time break, Lions defended well with Aria putting pressure on the attacker and forcing the ball out for a corner. The resulting cross flashed across the goal, but to Lions’ relief, nobody was able to get a touch on it.
A superb touch by Olivia enabled her to turn the last defender and leave her bearing down on the keeper. But the striker couldn’t quite manage to get her shot away.
Lions had been soaking up the Woburn pressure well, when a fluke bounce saw a long range looping shot bounce awkwardly over the outstretched arm of Lauren, leaving the keeper helpless and equalising the score.
Determined to regain the lead, Olivia found herself going through the Woburn back line once again, but this time her shot was well saved. It was end-to –end stuff with Aria having to heave the ball away from danger with a big clearance up field, before a magnificent double save from Lauren kept the Lions in the game.
Lions came close in the closing minutes after a decent shot from Gracie, who had managed to get on the end of a corner, fired wide of the post. Before a wonderful run from Bella down the left resulted in a cross which found Olivia in the box, but the shot didn’t quite have the power on this occasion to trouble the keeper.
Woburn had one last attack up their sleeves in the dying seconds, but once again, Aria was strong with her clearance ensuring the score stayed level at the final whistle.
This week’s player of the match: Flo
