U12s Lions vs Sporting 77 Pumas

Date	Home team	Score	Away team	Competition
18 Jan 2009	Sporting 77 Pumas	4-2	U12s Lions	League

Match report

LIONS "SLIP" UP

Focus Ferrers Lions u9s   2
Sporting 77 Pumas  u9s   4

The Lions first compeitive action for over a month saw the traditional  early red eye to Bocking to take on the Pumas.Free from any weather interference and blessed with an unusually flat pitch the boys looked keen to get back in the blocks.A bright start followed with Ben B pressing down the right and switching play very effectively.Early chances fell to the boys with Callum steering a firm shot wide, then Nathan , played through by the very impressive Jack,saw his shot squirm past the post.At the back James and Jamie were untroubled and the Lions fans could not have predicted that the match would turn so dramatically.Ben B put the boys in front on 8 minutes with a cracking right foot shot into the top corner.Thereafter more chances fell and the Lions pressed forward in search of more.However the equaliser came when the Pumas broke from the back in numbers and moved the ball past Alex and  a despairing James.In his effort to save the goal James sustained a heavy blow and was replaced by Ben P at the back and Tom went up front.Possession was regained and the boys went in front again after a series of chances that usually had Ben B or Jack at the heart of it.A smart through ball put in Nathan who calmly passed the ball past the keeper to give the boys a 2-1 lead at half time.Some changes came and once again there seemed no danger in sight.Lucas was asking questions of the Pumas right back and Jamie in particular at the back was bringing the ball out with some style.The game turned within a minute.A cross come shot from the right slipped from Alexs grasp and went on to the post and then fell down into the mud.The ref gave a goal but in his post match interview Alex maintained that the ball had not crossed the line.Still shocked a similar effort moments later made it 3-2 to Sporting and the match had turned as they say on its head.Ben P led the fightback and made some stirring breaks from midfield but it quickly became clear that the Lions were fighting an uphill battle.Camped in the Pumas half the shots reined in with chances for Tom and Callum in particular.The Pumas keeper matched them all and his goal stayed intact.The Pumas confirmed victory with a neat headed goal from a corner and a stunned Lions departed having lost their first ever game to a team from outside Woodham.This was a real lesson for the boys in that the workrate and concentration levels need to be sustained even when they feel the match is under control.Well done boys.
TEAM:ALEX,JAMES,JAMIE,JACKBEN B,BEN P,LUCAS,NATHAN,TOM,CALLUM
GOALS:BEN B (8), NATHAN(21) The score was 2-4.