Youth Football: Eaton Bray Lions

Posted on November 12, 2007

Brache Sparta U8 - 10
EB Lions U8 Blue - 1

An ill-deserved scoreline if ever there was one! A shortage of players forced Lions to play out of their usual positions, but a gritty team emerged to take on a formidable side.

In the opening minutes keeper Ollie Mulcahy was kept busy as Sparta poured the ball forward at every opportunity.

Five goals landed before Lions decided they were not content to sit back and absorb the pressure.

A battling display followed, defenders Jack Reynolds, Daniel Challis and Sam Bramston fighting to counter the opposition's driving play. It wasn't all one way traffic, some impressive runs courtesy of midfielders Connor Tough and Robert Bunting testing the opposition.

Lions looked set to make a comeback in the second half as Toby McGee rounded the Sparta defence, finding David Wood who completed, at last bringing the Lions onto the scoreboard.

The tide turned, Lions successfully defending their goal up until the last five minutes.

Crawley Green Tigers - 1
EB Lions U8 Reds - 7

Away against second place in the league, Lions needed to get a good result. Playing against a fairly strong wind, it was hard to get going and then Crawley Green scored.

From the centre Lions tried a shot straight at goal and it nearly worked, it took the keeper by surprise and he only just held on to it. With five minutes to go, Karl scored the well deserved equaliser.

With only one substitution to make at half time it meant that Lions started strongly and after five minutes Hard put Lions in the lead. Then soon after, with four goals in nine minutes, from Dax who was also MoM, Lions were in a great position and playing a good passing game.

The defence stayed solid and another goal from Hard in the last minute secured Lions' huge win.

This week's goalscorers were Dax Roe 4, Harri Ambrose 2, Karl Shrowder 1.

Barton Rovers Gunners U10 - 1
EB Lions U10 - 1

Lions again proved it within their capabilities to ameliorate a humble league ranking, turning in one of their most potent displays yet against the nimble Gunners.

Forced to endure two early corners, defenders James and Ben scrabbled to clear the first before a second looped in, on-target but expertly palmed over the crossbar by outstanding keeper Dan.

Following the break, attackers Dominic, Sean and Adam, supported by Tom and Charlie, made the pitch their own, slotting neat passes between the Barton defence and opening up tantalising shooting opportunities. With regularity the ball was cleared by James and MoM Ben, Aarin making relentless progress from end to end, ultimately spearing a shot inches above the bar.

It would be ten minutes in though before Chris set up Dominic to put the Lions ahead.

Although Barton would grab one back before full time the match would end as Lions' most accomplished performance this season.

Luton Leagrave U11 - 2
EB Lions U11 - 3

Lions made it six wins in a row, but this was a tough match in a very strong wind. The Lions deserved to take the lead halfway through the first half.

MoM Ben Flitton took a quick throw and the ball was worked across to an unmarked Matt Bramston who fired home.

Harry Rogers made a fantastic save when a Luton striker was through on goal, but Luton equalised later in the half.

At the start of the second half the Lions took the lead again when top scorer Matt scored his second of the match from a corner. Luton hit back immediately to level again.

The Lions piled on the pressure for the next 25 minutes and finally scored the winner when Scotty Mercer volleyed in another perfect corner from William Poole. The boys showed great determination to keep their winning run going.

Aylesbury Athletic U12 - 4
EB Lions U12 - 2

The start of the game saw a great team effort from Jake, Nathan and Will that resulted in a superb first goal for EB.

Aylesbury capitalised on a free kick and soon scored the equaliser. Both teams continued to display some great passing and defensive play.

Just before half time, Aylesbury gained control of the ball and made a superb run up the field and powered the ball into the back of the net.

The second half saw some great defensive play from Haydn and several near misses on goal from the Lions.

Aylesbury were continually hungry for the ball and outmanoeuvred EB's goalie to score. Aylesbury made another chase up the pitch, played a long ball and scored again.

Just before the final whistle a great shot on goal through several players by Declan improved EB's score.

Sacred Heart - 1
EB Lions U12 Girls - 0

This was the third away match out of four and Lions were playing what turned out to be the top of the league.

They started strongly and could have gone into the lead with strong shots from Darcy and Hattie bringing some good saves out of the Sacred Heart keeper.

Lions reserve keeper Nancy made some great saves, she was confident and came out of the goal well to keep a strong attack at bay until half time.

At half time Lions made more substitutions to try and find a combination that would enable them to find a way through their defence and score the goal that the team deserved but against the run of play Sacred Heart scored. Megan, Emily, Devon and Darcy, who was GoM in midfield, pushed forward strongly and Hattie and Elsa looked to score the goal they deserved.

The defence of Katie, Beth and Abbie stayed solid the whole game.

This was a great team effort and if they continue to play with the same attitude and confidence they will soon start to get the results that they deserve.

EB Lions U14 - 0
Woodside Rovers U14 - 4

An eagerly anticipated third round county cup match saw Woodside progress to the last 16.

Woodside started strongly with a free-kick and two shots missing the target.

Edmonds, Jell, Stiles and Callahan were a different midfield line up and found it hard to find Sciascia and McGarvey up front. Lions' Thiel, MoM Dear, Lancefield and O'Connor in defence worked hard to contain Woodside's attacks.

Woodside reverted to playing the long ball over the top and the deadlock was broken when a well taken corner from Jell met with the head of O'Hara.

Coates, for Lions, made a good run up the left wing, but there was nobody to take advantage of his cross.

Ten minutes into the second half a defensive error by Lions gifted an easy goal to Jell following an attack by Davies and JonesWilliams.

Lions' attacks were not penetrating enough and Woodside scored again when even the defence joined with MoM Sage-Passant and O'Hara bringing the ball forward found Jell again for number three.

Lions' Scott-Lewis broke through Woodside's defence, but was brought down and the resulting penalty was kicked over the bar much to the relief of keeper Cherry.

Simons and Arscott-Smith for Woodside had menacing runs down the wing and finally, a fumble by Lions' goalie allowed Jell to nick another easy goal for his hat-trick.

Source: EB Lions