Saturday saw Lions play a gripping game of football away to Shefford Saints Red. With the two teams equal on points in the league the game was of extra importance with both teams hoping to finish as high up the table as possible.
Having moved to three at the back for this game, Lions started brightly and put Shefford under some early pressure. Heidi showed some great skill to lose her marker on the right wing and put in a superb cross which was just too powerful for anyone to get the end of and fizzed off for a goal kick.
Some lovely link-up play followed soon after with a nifty ball from Georgia to Heidi almost making its way forward to Bella before being intercepted.
Shefford had some skilful players and were soon on the attack. It took both Freya and Kiera to sandwich the attacker, putting the player off balance and allowing Lauren the chance to collect the ball at the edge of her box. However it wasn’t long before Lions took a well-deserved lead. Another great ball from Georgia to Heidi was then fired into the box. Whilst the Shefford defender was able to get there before Bella, her clearance deflected off the Lions striker’s leg and rebounded into the goal.
With the safety of 3 at the back, Lions seemed to be able to press higher up the pitch. A strong press from Gracie put the Shefford defence under pressure, forcing some careless mistakes. When the home side did eventually push forward Kiera put in a challenge to put a stop to it. The communication from Kiera was fantastic all game long, encouraging her teammates into position. Shefford’s equaliser with a bit of luck after soaking up some Lions pressure. Having just made a great save, Lauren stood helpless as a long range effort took a deflection and sailed over the top of the keeper, into the goal.
Lions didn’t let the goal get them down. Amber showed great skill as she Ronaldo chopped inside her player, the resulting cross almost sending Bella through on goal. Further eye-catching passing between Tehila, Evelyn and Gracie had the home team spinning in circles.
The Lions back 3 of Aria, Freya and Kiera created a solid wall that Shefford, despite their cluster of really good players, just couldn’t break through. Shots were kept to a minimum and were from a distance.
Lions were close to a second before half time as Bella went on a bursting run into the box, but she was well tackled just before she could her shot away.
Having lost their keeper, Lauren for the second half, Lions had to shuffle players around and Gracie took her turn in goal. Lions started the have brightly and were soon attacking down the right with some neat passing between Bella and Heidi. The cross resulting in a corner which was well struck by Heidi and found Bella in the middle of the box. But the Shefford keeper stood strong and made a good save.
Moments later, Tehila tried her luck with a wonderful long range effort which was again well saved by the keeper, who was able to gobble the spilled ball up just before Bella could reach it.
At last Shefford were able to break through Lions’ midfield and looked to be making a good attack. However, Georgia was able to track back in time to knock the ball out for a throw. Moments later, Gracie was called into action with a strong save with her leg.
Tehila eased the pressure with a bursting run from midfield. She managed to get past the last defender and struck a fierce shot that was a little too powerful and fired over the bar. Shefford came again, but Aria stood firm and made an important block.
Lions began to enjoy some success down the left side of the pitch. Amber outwitted her marker and carried the ball down the wing before cutting it back to Tehila. A quick one-two with Heidi almost set Tehila through on goal, but she was well challenged.
More Lions pressure resulted in a corner. The ball was whipped in by Amber to Heidi, who was unmarked in the box, leaving her with a simple tap in which she took well. Unfortunately, the Lions’ lead didn’t last too long after Shefford jumped on a rare mistake at the back and fired in a decent shot that left Lions’ third keeper of the game, Freya with little chance of a save.
Tehila came close to re-establishing the Lions’ lead after a superb one-two with Bella resulted in a fine shot that required a fingertip save by the Shefford keeper to keep it out. Further tidy passing between Gracie, Amber Bella and Tehila resulted in another strong effort which shot just wide of the post.
Despite pulling off a decent save, Freya could do little to stop Shefford’s third and final goal which came against the run of play. Lions had 3 more good chances to equalise through Tehila and Amber, but the Shefford keeper made top save after save to keep her team ahead until the final whistle.
Despite absolutely deserving points from the game, it was a terrific spectacle to watch and will hopefully give Lions some confidence going into their next match, after a run of challenging games.
This week’s player of the match: Amber.
