The Lions have now managed to beat at least one team Ewell this season who not surprisingly share the same ground as their CDSFL namesakes. The Lions needed a quite bizarre own goal to be assured of victory, but frankly in a season where we haven't really started, we'll take the win any which way it comes.
Line-up:
Paige (GK)
Matt P (RB), Simon (CB), Rich (CB), Ollie (LB)
JP (CM), Nathan (CM), Lee (CM)
Tom (RF), Scott (CF), Kev (LF)
The first half was even enough in that both teams had spells when they were dominant, without being able to capitalise on their possession and chances. We were getting through their defence but all too often, the final ball would let us down, or there was simply no-one in a position to get on the end of a cross or pass. Their keeper didn't really have a save to make in the first half, although we had plenty of shots towards goal. Scott did a lovely flick, turn and shot in one move only for the ball to just clear the far upright but that was the closest we came to opening the scoring in the first half.
At the other end, Paige had to stand firm to deny a one-on-one chance and there was then an almighty goalmouth scramble that we managed to get away with. In general though, it was a much improved performance from last week and we were rightly encouraged by the half-time break.
In the second half, we managed to avoid our usual drop-off in concentration, took the game to them and got our rewards. There was a touch of controversy about our opener when their lino flagged for an offside, the oppo stopped for a whistle that never came and Nathan slipped in rounded the keeper and put in cool finish to send us one-up. The oppo were incensed, their lino had a long conversation with the ref but the decision stood. We had to survive another scare when the ball was cleared off the line by Si and we almost scored from the counter, but our second goal came from nowhere.
Their right back under no real pressure it had to be said, put in a back pass to his goalie. Or at least where he thought his goalie was. As it happened, his goalie had come out to the penalty spot to collect the anticipated pass, whereas the ball was headed low to the far corner of the goal, where it nestled snugly just inside the post.
As expected for a cup game, they put a lot of pressure on us from that point, but we held on well and could have had a couple of more goals, Scott had a decent effort and Nathan had a header come off the bar. We had a goalmouth scramble at their end, but nobody could find the touch to send the ball over the line. In the end, though we were good value for the win and have to be encouraged by a second successive clean sheet and massive upturn in our performance.
