Youth Football: Eaton Bray Lions

Posted on April 20, 2009

Luton Borough Dragons U8
EB Lions U8 Blues

Lions acquitted themselves well against top flight opponents, conceding a single goal and creating a panoply of textbook football to score twice in the first half and once in the second. Goals came through Joe Rabey (2) and an 0llie West penalty.

Myles Frederick was instrumental in establishing the forward momentum of the team throughout, accompanied by Toby McGee. Midfielders Sam Carter and Sam Bramston were energetic in both attacking and defensive roles, while on the back line Joe Thorne and James Glover offered a stubborn and effective resistance to the Borough strikers.

Keeper Cameron Burchell produced a handful of fine saves to frustrate the hosts, safeguarding what was to be one of the Lions' most notable performances of the season.

EB Lions U9 Reds - 3
AFC Luton - 0

The Lions started strongly and went close a few times before Jack Quigley found Dax Roe, who opened the scoring. Playing into a strong wind the defence of Ryan Luff and Findlay Christie played well together and helped Toby Higgs in goal keep another clean sheet.

With the wind behind them in the second half the Lions midfield of George Oliver and Jack Nevitt continued to control the game and then four minutes into the second half a throw in from Nevitt to Roe and then a cross into the penalty box from Nevitt gave Oliver the chance to score a great header. Ten minutes later a free kick from Oliver was helped on its way by Nevitt and the Lions were 3-0 up. The Lions played some really good football today and played for the team and not just for themselves.

Team: Roe, Quigley, Oliver, Nevitt, Higgs, Luff, Christie.

EB Lions U11 - 2
Sandy Colts U11 - 7

A superb strike from Mason Ashby and an own goal deflected in from a curling Sean Woodhouse cross couldn't help the Lions in a match which slipped away from them after the break.

It was 1-1 at half-time but Lions ought to have netted on two or three more occasions, effective forward Will Juster just failing to complete a string of promising runs. Following the break, the home side faced an uphill gradient and an opposing wind, which Sandy were well able to capitalise on. Despite some accomplished keeping by Dan Kennel the visitors seemed to find a surge in momentum and scored six times.

But there was excellent defensive work from Ben Roberts, Tom Horner, Aaron Gauntlett, Aarin Johnson and Will Petherbridge, and energetic play by a well linked midfield comprising Dominic Ryan, Chris McGee, Mason Ashby and Charlie Nevitt.

Source: EB Lions