After an enforced hiatus due to other teams being entered into pointless shield matches, Phoenix were finally back in league action this week against bottom of the table Hayden Lions.
Kick Off
With Josh ill and Oscar away, there was a squad of 12 to choose from this week. Jason and Martyn went with Tom in goal, in front of him a back 4 of Jai, Harry, Cameron and Charlie. Ben would hold the middle with George with Jack and providing support out wide. James would be in the lone striker position this week having been in red hot form since being moved there recently. Henry, Bailey and Euan would be on the bench waiting to join the action.
The weather was quite chilly considering the time of year but the pitch looked good even after constant overnight rain.
Hayden immediately showed why there were bottom of the league as Phoenix put them under pressure from the kick off and Jack found himself in front of goal with a chance he took to make it 1-0.
After 5 minutes, it became the James Ash show as he broke through twice after neat play to score another 2 goals to add to his impressive recent tally. 3-0 and no more than Phoenix deserved for their excellent start.
On a rare attack Hayden won a corner which Phoenix defended poorly to gift them a goal to make it 3-1 but this only seemed to spur Phoenix on as they broke again and James made it 4-1 and claimed his hat-trick.
Midway through the half, Jason made some changes which seemed to disrupt the flow of the team as it became very scrappy.
Just before half time, Bailey attacked well down the left and squeezed the ball in just as Henry pounced but it was Bailey’s goal and made it 5-1.
Half Time – Hayden Lions 1 Phoenix Lions 5
During half time, Jason made further changes to ensure everyone would get a game.
Early in the second half Hayden attacked and won an innocuous penalty which they duly scored to make it 5-2.
The referee seemingly favoured Hayden in most respects with Charlie in particular being on the end of some poor decisions which he took personally and ended up with a talking to from the referee.
More changes led to James going back up front and he immediately carried on where he left off scoring his 4th to make it 6-2.
Despite a few forays into the Phoenix half, in truth it was one way traffic for the second half.
Chance after chance went begging for Phoenix before James again scored his 5th to make it 7-2.
Full Time – Hayden Lions 2 Phoenix Lions 7
A much needed league win for Phoenix which see them now climb above South Darenth who they are supposed to still play twice along with Highway and Real Gima but given the Selkent organisers wish to give Shield matches priority and only 3 Sundays left before the upcoming Butlins tour, it is unlikely all 4 league matches will get played – if any.
If they do play those league games, they should get the results they deserve and climb the table further still.
But if they don’t, it will friendlies again and a chance for everyone to get game time and keep fit ahead of the Butlins tournament.
That tournament will be a finale for some of the team as Jason and Martyn announced to parents and players alike that they would be leaving at the end of the season to join Crayford Arrows.
The end of an era for a team which has been together since U7 so 5 years. But as in all walks of like, times change and things move on.
Still a few weekends to go so until then, come on you Lions!
