Lions’ penultimate game of the season was away to Buckingham FC Youth Swifts. Despite putting in some excellent performances in recent weeks, Lions hadn’t been able to turn the performance on the pitch into points – so were especially keen to get their just rewards this week.
The game started evenly with both teams defending well and cancelling each other out but it wasn’t long before Lions started to stretch the play and enjoy some success down both wings. An early shot by Amber on the left was well saved before some nifty skill by Evelyn enabled her to create some space down the right. Her cross flashed dangerously into the box, but no Lions player could quite reach it.
Kiera showed great leadership at the back, confidently calling her teammates into position. Buckingham tried to advance but Freya stood strong, making a clean challenge and playing the ball up the pitch to Gracie. Bella almost sent the away side into an early lead after receiving a pass from Amber who had weaved into the box, but she couldn’t quite get her shot off.
The home side moved the ball well and worked themselves into a good shooting opportunity but stand-in keeper Georgia made a great save to keep the score at nil nil. Moments later the home side were attacking again but some great tracking back by Freya was enough to put the attacker under pressure and force a mistake.
The deadlock was broken when the ball found its way to Bella in the box who was able to get a powerful shot off leaving the keeper with little chance. Buckingham didn’t let their heads drop and soon came at the Lions’ defence again. But this time Aria and Kiera worked together well to double up on the attacker and clear the ball away.
Having made several bursting runs, Tehila was finally rewarded after collecting the ball on the half way line. The Lions attacker turned and took several steps inside the home side’s half before firing a looping shot over the keeper – receiving applause from both sets of fans. Minutes later Tehila and Amber combined well with a neat 1-2 before the latter threaded the ball through to Flo. Unfortunately the keeper was out to it quickest.
The home side were finding it increasingly difficult to break through Lions’ midfield. But when at last they did, Sienna was able to make a strong tackle and come away with the ball. Her pass found Gracie who collected it well and played a tasty through ball to Flo, but the pass was a little too heavy and ran to the keeper.
Lions almost had a third before half time. Amber escaped her marker down the left and fizzed in a decent cross to Bella in the box. She struck the ball well but just wide of the post.
Buckingham came out fighting after the half time break, and it took Aria and Sienna to team up again to thwart the attack. Sienna with the first challenge, backed up by Aria who was able to play the ball away to safety.
Tehila showed tremendous strength to see off three players, but ran out of pitch before being able to make the cross. Moments later Evelyn made a great call for the ball and received it with an excellent touch. She managed to turn her player but couldn’t quite get away from her and was eventually tackled. Bella too managed to beat her marker with some quick footwork, but Buckingham’s defence were quick to get back and put the tackle in.
Lions’ effort soon paid off with a 3rd goal by Tehila after putting pressure on the defender and forcing an error, then pouncing on the ball before the keeper could reach it, slotting it into the net.
Georgia, having had quite a quiet half, launched a huge kick from her hands up field to Tehila who was almost able to get onto it but once again the keeper was out fast to collect. Georgia finally saw some action moments later saving a low struck shot well. Lions continued to press and Gracie was nearly on the scoreboard after firing a fierce strike goal bound only to see it well saved by the goalie. A flurry of chances soon followed with a cross by Evelyn almost catching the keeper out and going in. Then Evelyn found herself in the action again when Tehila’s corner found her in the box but her shot was well blocked. Finally a great ball from Gracie sent Amber through on goal with just the keeper to beat but sadly her shot went into the side netting.
Lions looked to have secured a clean sheet after Kiera snatched the ball away from the attacker just as she was lining up a shot, but a slight miskick moments later was pounced upon and well struck past Georgia giving the home side a well-deserved gaol and bring the game to its conclusion.
This week’s player of the match: Evelyn
