Lions hosted Woburn and Wavendon Clarets for their last game of 2024. It was Lions first league cup tie of the season and it turned out to be a great way to end the calendar year and celebrate Coach Robin’s 21st birthday.
Woburn started strongly with some good early pressure. Lauren was called into action early, rushing to the edge of her box to collect the ball after a good Woburn break. Moments later, Georgia was on hand to make an important block and clear the ball away.
Lions began to settle into the game more and Tehila and Heidi enjoyed some success down the right side of the pitch. Having played a delightful 1-2 between themselves minutes earlier to get around the Woburn midfield, they were at it again with Tehila playing a neat pass back to Heidi who made a cross-field ball to Georgia. Lions’ captain passed her marker and got a shot away, but it fizzed just wide of the post.
Lions then broke down the left. Amber turned her player and passed the ball through to Gracie who got a decent shot off but it was blocked by the outstretched leg of the defender. Woburn countered, but Kiera was the quickest to the ball. The forward move she started resulted in Tehila setting off on a bursting run. She passed the Woburn back line but couldn’t quite release her shot. Another wonderful team moved followed with Amber laying the ball off to Tehila. The Lions striker moved past one defender before playing the ball to Heidi. Unfortunately, her shot also sailed just wide of the post.
A big clearance up the pitch by Aria thwarted Woburn’s attempt to break through the Lions’ ranks but it wasn’t long before the away side came again. They would have found themselves 1 nil up if it wasn’t for a heroic dive from Lauren, getting a strong hand to the ball and pushing it away from the waiting Woburn player. Woburn were playing well and soon came again. A strong foot from Freya was enough to break the move down and relieve the pressure. Lions countered with another wonderful team move. This time coming down the right with Heidi playing the ball inside to Bella who quickly moved it onto Gracie. The midfielder passed it wide to Amber who took it past the Woburn defender before playing it on to Tehila. However, the strikers’ cross across the goal was blocked before Heidi could reach it, bringing the move to an end.
Having just shot wide themselves, Woburn were advancing again, but Olivia was strong in her challenge. Having won the ball she played it wide to Amber who carried it past the back line and was in on goal only to see her shot also shoot wide of the post. Would Lions rue their missed chances?
Again Woburn came and an important tackle by Flo was needed to break the move up. Woburn changed their tactics and diverted to long balls over the top, but the ever-ready Sienna was on hand to mop up the loose ball and carry it away from danger. Woburn were enjoying a little more possession and both Aria and Freya were called into action, the first putting in a strong tackle, the latter moving the ball cleverly away from the opposition before making the clearance. In the final moments of the half Lions were awarded a free kick. The ball was whipped in by Heidi and was millimetres away from the outstretched foot of Olivia, but she was unable to get her toe to it.
Lions started the second half confidently. A throw-in by Amber to Tehila was crossed inside to Bella who fired a strong shot away. But the Woburn defence stood strong and made the block. Minutes later, Amber travelled down the left wing, out-skilling the Woburn player before threading a through-ball to Tehila. The Lions’ attacker also showed off some fancy footwork as she tricked her way past the defender only to be stopped by a last ditch challenge just as she was about to shoot. Heidi then looked to be in on goal seconds later as she danced around the keeper, but she just couldn’t get her shot off in time before a defender made the challenge. Georgia showed composure as she twisted and turned the Woburn attacker on the edge of her own box before clearing the ball up field to safety.
At last Lions’ efforts were rewarded when the Woburn keeper, who had been superb all game, hesitated on the ball giving Tehila the chance to pounce. The keepers’ panicked clearance fell to Bella who blasted the ball into the back of the net. Lions’ second followed soon after when Amber made a strong challenge to win the ball out wide. She carried the ball down the wing before playing a through-ball to Tehila. The Lions’ striker took it around the keeper and slotted the ball into the open goal. Lions finished the game off with their 3rd after a throw from Amber to Georgia was headed into the air by the Lions captain. Her outstretched leg was first to the ball and knocked it across the edge of the box. It found its way to Tehila just outside the box who struck a powerful shot past the keeper.
Woburn bravely tried to rally a final attack in the dying seconds, but Flo stood strong, making a block in the middle of the park moments before the ref blew his whistle, bringing to its conclusion a fantastic match and a wonderful year for all involved with Linslade Galaxy Lions U12.
This weeks’ player of the match: Freya.
