The Lions had come away from Petts Wood last week with a sense of disappointment after drawing a game that they probably should have won. A glance at the Selkent B East league table shows that a win would be very welcome to ensure that the Lions retain their mid table position. The management team put the boys through their paces in the two subsequent training sessions concentrating on fitness and passing drills. The boys all trained really hard seemingly taking on board what Jason and Martyn were telling them and the signs were good for Sunday’s game.
A home league match against Dartford White was up next for the Lions. A must win match in view of the fact that Dartford White sat just 2 points behind the Lions in the league. The Lions had run out 3-2 victors in the game earlier in the season which contained the now infamous James Ash ‘offside’ goal.
Kick Off
Thankfully the rain that had decimated the footballing calendar so far this year had held off but the boys were faced with a different challenge this week with a very strong wind blowing from one end of the pitch to the other. The Lions set up with a 4-3-1 formation with Euan Corbett-Smith taking the captains armband this week. The match official, who was refereeing his very first game, whistled for the game to start with the Lions kicking with the strong wind at their backs.
From the kick off it was clear that the Lions were very much up for this game with all of the early exchanges taking place in the Dartford half. Initial good combinations between George and Archie led to a couple of long range shots from Archie which the keeper initially spilled and gathered just ahead of the advancing Henry. Archie was seeing a lot of the ball now and another combination with Jack led to a shot flashing just wide of the goal. This was a warning not taken by Dartford and within minutes a solo trademark run by Archie skipping past challenges complimented by a great run by Henry taking Dartford players out of position created a hole in the defence for Archie to skip through and fire the ball into the top right corner of the net. 1-0 Lions.
Dartford did rally after conceding the first goal but found the Lions defence of Charlie, Euan, Ben and George in excellent form. The Dartford No 8 was their standout player and he did manage to draw a foul just outside the Lions area representing their best chance of scoring but the free kick was hit high and wide. The Lions management team of Jason and Martyn sensed that complacency may have crept in as the initial exchanges were so one sided and were barking out orders from the touchline encouraging the boys to continue their good work. A quick break by Henry almost created another goal but the ball was sent out for a corner which was not converted. Archie then broke down the right hand side to the Dartford by- line and crossed the ball into the Dartford 5 yard box where Henry was waiting to challenge the goalkeeper and poke the ball in the net. A much deserved 2-0 Lions.
That was the trigger for complete dominance by the Lions in the remaining period of the first half. A good break from defence by Charlie led to his first time shot being deflected for a corner. The subsequent corner taken by Archie was headed in from close range bravely by George. 3-0 Lions
As each goal went in the boys were encouraging each other to keep up the intensity as if it were 0-0 and the message certainly got across to the whole team with numerous further chances created with George, Archie and Jack having shots saved or going close. A foul on a Lion on the touchline gave the Lions a free kick some way out of the box which was driven in by Charlie. The Dartford defender tried a first time clearance but only succeeded in deflecting the ball into his own net. 4-0 Lions.
Various substitutions were made by the Lions but this did not affect the team as it had done in previous weeks and only served to increase the pressure on the Dartford defence. Jai, Tom and Oscar slotting seamlessly into the team. Indeed, excellent interplay between Tom, Oscar and Archie led to an Archie shot going just over the bar almost immediately.
Half time was looming but the Lions hadn’t finished feasting on the Dartford goal just yet. The Dartford goalkeeper had been having difficulty with his spot kicks against the wind and was found out when a poor kick to a defender was superbly chased down by Jack who subsequently rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the goalmouth where Oscar was waiting to guide the ball into the empty net. 5-0
Half Time: Phoenix Lions 5 Dartford White 0
The Lions supporters didn’t want the half to end. Would the half time break disrupt the boys, would they take their foot off the gas, would kicking against the wind cause them problems? We needn’t have worried……
The second half started as the first half finished with the Lions on the front foot. James having the first opportunity to test the Dartford keeper with a well saved shot. An attack by Tom led to a deflection that Tom saw expertly out for a corner. The corner was sent in by Archie and met with a bullet header in the five yard box by Charlie. Very brave and a well-timed run. 6-0 Lions.
There then followed two great team goals. The first started with Ben facing his own goal, turning and at the same time nutmegging the Dartford forward, finding Archie who then expertly put Oscar through down the left. Oscar then passed the ball across the area to Tom who drilled the ball past the Dartford keeper into the net. 7-0
The next goal was just as impressive with Dartford on the attack; Charlie got ahead of the forward and passed the ball back calmly to goalkeeper Josh who expertly found James in the centre of midfield who turned and went on one of his trademark runs slotting the ball into the Dartford net. 8-0
The Lions then made further changes which on this occasion did seem to disrupt the team as they seem to lose shape and intensity a little. The game turned a little scrappy from then on with neither side creating many chances. Dartford took advantage of the strong wind with a long shot that Josh got his hands to but could only parry into the net. 8-1 Lions.
The Lions hadn’t finished though and further strong running from Tom on the right led to a throw in. Tom then found James who beat some Dartford challenges to fire in a shot into the top corner of the Dartford net. 9-1 Lions.
Final Score: Phoenix Lions 9 Dartford White 1
Wow, what a game. The score line was every bit deserved but more importantly the manner in which the boys played was commendable. The boys had obviously been listening to Jason and Martyn in the recent training sessions and there was an intensity in their play that had not been there before. The team kept a good shape and played as a team with good passing and running off the ball. Each and every player can be proud of their performance. Well done guys. Keep it going.
(Match Report this week by Noel Chesley)
