London Lions 1 - 2 Tring Athletic

ARE WE BECOMING A CUP TEAM?

After our superb win against London Lions the view expressed around the Club was that we have become a Cup Team, in other words we perform better in cups than in the league games. That may be a moot point but what is undoubtedly true is that we have won only 2 of our last 6 League games whilst we have won all of our last 6 cup ties (if you exclude the loss to Watford in the Herts Senior Cup).

This game was played at the impressive Maccabi London Sports Ground in Barnet which has a superb playing surface despite the excessive wet weather we have endured lately. The pitch suited us and certainly suited London Lions because they like to keep the ball on the deck and to dominate possession.

Lions are 3 places above us in the League Table and they are on a decent run of form, losing only 2 of their last 6 League games, one of which was when they went down 3-2 to us in Tring just under 3 weeks ago.

We were missing a number of key players for this game, which meant we only had 3 on the bench, and we have had a lot of games recently so we knew we faced a very daunting task.

However, we got off to the best possible start when we were awarded a penalty after only 22 seconds when a poor defensive pass was seized upon by Max Hercules who was then fouled by the keeper. Skipper George Carbery calmly tucked away the spot kick for his 8th goal of the season to give us the early advantage. Score 0-1.

Soon afterwards Noah Butler showed great skills to get free of his marker and then fire a good shot over the bar. Lions responded through their captain and leading scorer Austin Lipman who produced a good turn and shot that forced a good save from Dan Gould.

Our hosts were playing a high line and our pace on the break was causing them all sorts of problems with Max and Frankie Hercules going close. Our opponent’s main threat was through Austin Lipman and went close with a shot that went just past the far post after a penetrating run by speedy winger Jack Mattey.

Youth Team product James Sales used his cultured left foot to whip over some great crosses that were crying out for someone to get on the end of them. Dan Goud who has settled into the team superbly was called into action to make 2 good saves at the near post. Towards the end of the half Frankie’s terrific free kick was headed over the bar by a defender but at the break we still retained our slim one goal advantage. HT Score 0-1.

Early in the second half Jack Harvey was inches away from connecting with a super cross into the oppositions box and as if to emulate that the Lions big midfielder Max Kyte did likewise in our area.

As the half progressed our hosts started to dominate possession and our attacks became more sporadic but we defended well with George Carbery marshalling our troops. Crosses and set pieces sent into our area were well dealt with by Dan Gould whose handling was assured. Max Kyte did get on the end of a fine cross but he planted his header into the arms of our keeper.

Lions racked up the pressure but we held steady but with 12 minutes of normal time left we did crack when a whipped in cross was touched home from close range by a Lions players (sorry didn’t get his name). Score 1-1.

As a result the odds now swung greatly in favour of hosts but full credit to our players they came back strongly and retook the lead within a minute with Harry Jones superbly setting up the opportunity. Picking up the ball on the right wing Harry got past the defender then slipped a lovely pass through to Max Hercules who slammed a shot past the keeper. Score 1-2.

There was still plenty of time for our hosts to score an equaliser and they pressed forward slinging the ball into our area at every opportunity. Dan Gould made a good save late on and we managed to hold out (which included over 6 minutes of added time) for a memorable win against a very good team. FT Score 1-2.

Coming back to the theme expressed earlier in this report about us being a Cup Team, there is certainly plenty to look forward to in this respect with a Semi-Final place booked in the Premier Division Cup as a result of this win against either Shefford Town or Real Bedford away. We also have a Quarter-Final tie in the Gladwish Challenge Trophy away at Potton United, a Semi-Final in the St Marys Cup against Levertsock Green away and that’s not all because we already have a place in the Final of the Herts Charity Shield against Oxhey Jets to come as well – phew!!

But before we get carried away with ourselves we still have plenty of League games to play starting on Saturday when we visit Sawbridgeworth Town away.

Team:

TA: Dan Gould, Harry Jones, James Sales, G Carbery (Capt), Dave O’Connor, Jack Harvey, Harrison Cornick, Noah Butler (Ryan Sharkey 75), Max Hercules, Frankie Hercules (Harrison Mead 67), Ben Kakembo (Liam Smyth 73).

Scorers:

LL: Unknown (78)

TA: Carbery Pen (1), Max Hercules (79)

Crowd: ?