As winter finally lets it’s frosty grip loose long enough for league matches to commence, it was business as usual for the young Lions, as the race for the title began to reach boiling point. Today’s opponents were Dewsbury Rangers, who earlier in the season had caused us problems for half a game before the young Lions got to grips and went on to win 5-1. With the pitch showing signs of being under two foot of snow for the best part of two weeks, this game would test the stamina of both teams.
Also in Dewsbury’s favour was the fact that quite clearly the Christmas present bought for the referee Owen Thomas (Graham Macdonald’s brother in law) was utter dog muck, I will elaborate later on.
With a full squad to pick from Graham stuck with the same outfield 8 with Billy Farley making way for the fit again Joe Moutell in goal.
Joe Moutell
Raman Kirkel Briayar Azad Maghdeed Aidan Wilkinson
Luke Broadbent Alex Mcdonald Jacob Costello
Cain Wilkinson Harry Smith
Subs Billy Farley Rico st Hilaire and Harry Bains
This game started at a hundred miles an hour with both sides treating the ball as a hot potato and it was the visitors that settled the better and on 8 minutes took a deserved lead after some poor defending. Credit to the young Lions they never let their heads drop and began to apply some pressure of their own. Within 4 minutes the Lions were back level after good work down the right by Jacob Costello, his cross found Harry Smith all alone, the young front man let fly from the edge of the area finding the bottom right corner. The game was turning out to be as tough as Graham and I had warned the young boys prior to kick off, as the game went from end to end. As I mentioned earlier referee Owen Thomas awarded his second penalty in two games to the away side as a baffled management team and both set of players looked on, but as they say the ref is always right!!!!!!! Up stepped the Ranger’s captain and put his kick right into the corner but in Joe Moutell we have an outstanding keeper, the young goalie flung himself to his left, saved the kick and then got up to pounce on the ball as it looked to cross the line, brilliant Joe. Soon after great work from man of the match Alex Macdonald who slipped the ball through to Cain Wilkinson who slotted the ball home, great team goal. With half time approaching the young Lions increased their lead again after Dewsbury had failed to clear an Aidan Wilkinson corner as the ball fell at the feet of Briayar Maghdeed who crashed it into the roof of the net.
HT 3-1
The second half was a continuation of the first half with both sides guilty of missing good chances, but once again the away team had not read the script and on 42 minutes they closed the gap to one goal despite valiant effort from Joe and Aidan to stop the ball crossing the line. The game was finally settled in bizarre circumstances when H Smith let fly only for the defender to get in the way and caught right in the two meat and veg, the ball bounced straight back to the young forward who made no mistake second time round firing high into the net. As the Lions celebrated, the Ranger’s defender was helped from the pitch with tears flowing down his red cheeks. The rest of the half passed with no real chances at either end.
Editors thoughts, at times a strange game but a great save from J Moutell when it mattered and also excellent non stop running and tackling from the midfield trio of A Macdonald, Luke Broadbent and Jacob Costello.
Chief Editor
j.s
POS
P
W
D
L
TS
1
Almondbury Lions
11
10
1
0
31
2
Westend Tigers
12
10
0
2
30
3
Wyke Wndrs
12
7
1
4
22
4
Hade Edge Lions
11
7
0
4
21
