Match Report
14/10/07 Alvechurch Lions 4 Arden Forest 3
A very exciting game saw the both teams lead at one stage or another, but it was the Lions who showed great courage to come back twice then score the winner in the final minute.
Jack opened the scoring after 7 minutes following some great work by Shane.
With 9 minutes gone, Alex raced in to pick up a loose ball and rocketed a shot towards the Arden goal. Unfortunately for Alex it went just wide.
At the other end, Michael made a great tackle to deny the Arden striker getting a shot in.
Cameron, today's captain, was all over the pitch winning tackles and headers.
Arden again nearly scored, a shot from outside the area was saved brilliantly by Luke in goal and he then even managed to clear it off the line!
Harry T continued where he left off last week with some super tackling in the Lions defence.
Arden Forest were then awarded a penalty for handball. The taker struck it well and Luke couldn't prevent it going in. 1-1.
In the final minute of the first half, Arden broke again and scored to take the lead into half time.
Shane showed some good skills as he skipped past a defender and unleashed a shot.
Second half goalkeeper, Harry B, made a good save in the 25th minute from a long range shot.
Luke - outfield for the second half, then equalised for the Lions only fo Arden Forest to go straight up the othe end and re-take the lead!
2 minutes later Arden were awarded another penalty. The taker smashed this one goalwards as before....Then, Harry B dived to his left and saved it, he then jumped on the rebound before anyone else could get there!
In the 34th minute, Declan, who was having another fantastic game, took a long throw in and found Luke who controlled the ball before scoring Lions 3rd goal.
Shane had a long free kick well saved after 39 minutes, then, in the last minute of the game, Shane won the ball in his own corner, ran the length of the pitch before setting up Luke to score his hatrick and the winning goal! 4-3 to Alvechurch.
Another great victory for the team. Well done!
Today's Man of the Match was Harry Bestwick
07/10/07 Warriors 0 Alvechurch Lions 9
At the third attempt, the lads got the win they had been aiming for over the last few weeks, the first of many hopefully!
An electric start to the match saw the Lions score FIVE goals in the opening 8 minutes!
Shane opened the scoring after just 40 seconds with a superbly struck free kick. Luke then added the teams second and third goal in the second and third minute! Three minutes gone and the lads were winning 3-0!
Shane, who missed last weeks game, then scored 2 in 2 minutes. The second, his hatrick, was another free kick - I think we've found a dead ball specialist!
Captain Declan lead the team by example chasing the ball all over the pitch with some great tackling and passing.
Thanks to some solid defending by the Harry duo at the back and brave goalkeeping by Michael, who had to wait until the 17th minute for his first touch, the score was 5-0 at half time.
While we are looking for a full time goalkeeper, the lads are all taking it in turns and it was Shane's turn for the second half.
With 26 minutes gone, Warriors looked odds on to score when, out of nowhere, Jack made a last ditch tackle to prevent the shot.
Jack then managed to get himself on the scoresheet in the 30th minute.
A minute later, Luke looked like he was going to complete his hatrick when he was fouled in the area - PENALTY!
For all his hard work, Alex had a chance to extend the Lions lead. He ran up and struck the ball brilliantly sending it into the top corner - only for the ref to order him to take it again as he was still sorting out the other players! The re-take was then saved!
Luke did complete his hatrick in the 32nd minute with a well taken goal.
The Lions defence showed some great determination preventing Warriors from getting a shot on target and Declan was throwing himself in front of everything - taking one or two knocks in the process!
Jack got his second goal in the 34th minute before Michael was rewarded for his efforts with a goal in the dying seconds.
So it finished 9-0! A thoroughly deserved victory and a very, very good performance.
Well done Alex, Dec, Harry B, Harry T, Jack, Luke, Michael and Shane.
Today's Man of the Match was Harry Thompson.
Many thanks to Andy Clayton for offering to referee the game.
