MATCH REPORTS
London Cup Semi-Final
Junior Red's U9's (0) v Glebe Lion's U9's (3)
London Cup Final here we come!! What an achievement for the boy's in their first competitive year. It was a great result against a very strong and quick Junior Reds side. The Lions had to show all sides of their game to win, the skills, movement, passing, battling and defensive qualities ultimately saw them through.
From Ben in goal through to George up front each boy gave everything. They defended and attacked as a team which is so admirable for a group of boys this age. This was as tough a game as they have faced all season. George put the Lions ahead early on which seemed to calm any nerves they were feeling. His control and one touch passing was causing the Reds a problem from the outset. He beat the keeper at the near post with a good strike after Bailey had lifted the ball out to him with the outside of his boot.
The game was end to end and there were chances for both teams but Sam was on top form in defense ably backed up by Fraser to keep the Reds at bay. When they did manage strikes on goal Ben was in magnificent form and his save in the first half to tip a shot onto the bar was amazing, it was also critical as it kept the boys in front going into half-time.
It was much of the same in the second half as both teams were playing good football the Lions with more of a passing game and the Reds had powerful runners that were continuing to cause problems for Glebe. Nathan, Zak and Bailey were doing a great job in midfield and winning lots of important tackles and headers.
The second goal came from a free kick when Sam floated in a lovely ball which the effervescent Manny hit on the volley as it dropped to him at the far post. It was an excellent finish and deserving of all his hard work. This was followed quickly by the third when George scored after hitting the post but his strikers instinct saw him net from the rebound. It was now time to kill off the game, so Mark took Noah and George off and played 4 in midfield to nullify any threat Junior Reds had left. This did not stop them having another couple of strikes on goal which were saved by Ben. One second half save diving to his right to turn the ball around the post had the crowd in raptures. His display earned him Man of the Match for the second week running. It was a great game and a great result!!
MATCH STATS
Goals
George (2)
Manny (1)
Man of the Match
Ben
22/01/12
Glebe Lions U9's (4) v Glebe Puma's U9's (0)
The Lions continued their good form with another fine performance against a spirited Puma's side that battled right to the end.
The Lions got off to a fast start for the third week running when George received the ball from Manny and he hit a great shot from the edge of the box which clipped the underside of the bar before nestling in the back of the net. The second followed swiftly when Bailey hit a fantastic half volley from distance which flew over the Keepers head. Both teams should be applauded for being committed in their tackles but also for sticking to their passing games on a heavy pitch. Some of the slick one two's were particularly impressive.
The Lion's went 3-0 up before half-time when George scored his second with an effort that squeezed through a crowded area making it difficult for the keeper to save as he saw it very late.
The second was more equal as the Pumas had some good chances to get back in the match but if they were not snuffed out by some last ditch tackles by Fraser and Sam then Ben was making some great saves which also needed him to be very brave. His second half display was duly rewarded with the Man of the Match trophy.
Goalscoring chances for the Lions still arose with Noah, Zak and Nathan going close before Manny scored the fourth with a smart run down the left wing and he finished with an accurate shot which squeezed in the near post.
This was a good win for the Lions and will hopefully keep their confidence up for the London Cup semi-final next week.
MATCH STATS
Goals
George (2)
Bailey (1)
Manny (1)
Man of the Match
Ben
15/01/12 Tandridge League
Tunbridge Wells Foresters U9's (2) v Glebe Lions U9's (13)
This match saw the Lions back to their very best. With only the bare seven players, no goalkeeper and on a pitch that was barely playable due to frost, they were a revelation! For the second week running Manny scored a hat-trick within 10 minutes of kick off and this inspired the team to go on a goal fest. It was fantastic to watch boys of this age play the type of passing and movement befitting any game on TV. Their first touch and control on the difficult service was breathtaking,
The fact that every boy contributed to the display was the most impressive thing. After Manny's treble Bailey struck a half volley from the edge of the box and then George scored with a great run and finish to make it 5-0. The Foresters showed great character to score from a quick break to give them some hope but it was brief respite as Fraser blasted a sixth and George scored again to make it 7-1.
George then went into overdrive to score 3 more goals in quick succession. Bailey added another and was desperately unlucky not to score a hat-trick himself but was denied by some resolute defending by the opposition. Manny scored his fourth and Fraser took the goal tally to 13. Huge credit must go to the Foresters for not giving up and they scored a fantastic goal from a move that started at the edge of their own box and 3 passes later was in the Lions net.
It would be remiss not to mention Sam, Nathan and Zak as they were all excellent and contributed as much as the goalscorers but the fact that Bailey was instrumental in most moves the Lions had and set the tone with his touch, control and passing meant he deservedly took home the Man of the Match award.
MATCH STATS
Goals
George (5)
Manny (4)
Bailey (2)
Fraser (2)
Man of the Match
Bailey
08/01/12 Tandridge League
Glebe Lions U9's (6) v Tulse Hill FC (2)
The Lions returned from the festive break raring to get the New Year off to a flier. The catalyst for their fast start was definitely Manny, who scored a lightning hat-trick within eight minutes of the kick off. All three goals were great strikes and worthy of goal of the game. The first was a solo run and finish into the top corner. The second was laid on by George who was involved in most of Glebes good play. Manny completed his hat-trick after Zak run with the ball from his own half and played a slide rule pass which Manny smashed first time into the opposite top corner.
This attacking play was of course backed up by great defensive work by Sam and Fraser who were as dependant as ever. Bailey was covering for Ben's absence in goal and was called into action on occasion but he dealt with each attack as if keeping goal was his natural position. Noah and George were working hard to keep the Tulse Hill defense busy but it must be noted that for all the attacking play they were doing they and Manny worked so hard to win the ball back when Tulse Hill had possession. Manny then went in goal which must have pleased their opponents but their relief was short lived as Bailey came out to stamp his authority on the game and coupled with Nathan and Zak the trio were providing the steel and guile in midfield that was instrumental in helping to take the opposition apart time and again. Nathan and Zak played a smart passing move which resulted in Nathan scoring the fourth. Then George scored his customary goal to make it 5-0 at half time.
Great credit must go to Tulse Hill who showed great spirit to put on a defiant display in the second half and although Bailey and Fraser hit the bar and Sam had a free kick saved well by the keeper, the boys couldn't break down the resilient defense. That was until Manny capped off his Man of the Match display by adding to his hat-trick to make it 6-0. The move of the match was when Bailey sold a dummy to two defenders and back heeled the ball to Manny who had overlapped him, his cross was almost finished by Noah but the keeper managed to make a good save.
Obviously, with Ben watching from the sidelines Mark had to shuffle the boys around and this saw Fraser and George deputise in goal. And inevitably Tulse Hill scored two late goals which their second half performance deserved.
Overall it was a good start to the New Year and hopefully a sign of things to come!!
MATCH STATS
Goals
Manny (4)
Nathan (1)
George (1)
Man of the Match Award
Manny
London Cup Quarter Final
Crayford Arrows U9's (2) v Glebe Lions U9's (3)
Glebe were triumphant in a tough match which saw few attempts on goal but plenty of good football. The boys excelled on a big pitch and played a passing game which was too much for an Arrows side who battled for every ball and showed why they had deservedly done so well in this competition.
The boys took the lead early when George twisted and turned two boys inside the box and after being brought down, he showed determination to play on and managed to squeeze the ball inside the Keepers near post.
The second goal came after 13 minutes when Zak finished well after great work by Manny down the left wing. The Lions were now in total control as most of the Arrows attacks seemed to fizzle out before getting to Ben. This was due largely to Fraser and Sam in defense, who were backed up ably by Bailey and Zak who were working tirelessly in midfield.
George and Manny were keeping the opposition on their toes with good football but couldn't quite test the goalkeeper. Nathan and Noah were now on and the Lions continued to press forward. Then the referee awarded a disputed penalty when Nathan appeared to make a clean tackle inside the box. The penalty was struck with venom and gave Ben no chance. Now all of a sudden Crayford were in the game! They were winning more tackles and applying pressure on the Lions defense who were not as controlled as earlier. The half time whistle was welcome with the score at 1-2.
The second half started and was more evenly contested without too much incident until the Lions were awarded a penalty which again appeared soft as the Crayford defender seemed to get the ball first but caught Manny after. George stepped up and although he slipped he got enough of the ball to send it into the top corner. The boys were lifted by this and were back on top but Crayford were not beat yet and scored with an opportunity which seemed harmless at first but they were now back in the game. As ever, all of the boy's gave their all and were worthy of individual credit. A special mention must go to Fraser who was excellent at the back and Bailey who gave a true Captains performance in midfield. Zak was rewarded for his efforts with the Man of the Match trophy.
The Lions saw the game out when Mark sensibly filled up the midfield to snuff out any chance the Arrows had of snatching another equaliser. They were now into the last four of the London Cup. A fantastic achievement!
I know all the boy's would like to thank Mark for all his hard work this Year and wish him and his family a great Xmas and New Year and knowing Mark, I am sure this is the best present he could have had!!
We wish all the Team and their supporters a wonderful festive break and look forward to all your support again in the New Year!! Let's hope it is a great 2012.
MATCH STATS
Goals
George (2)
Zak (1)
Man of the Match
Zak
20th November 2011
London Cup 3rd Round
Phoenix FC U9's (2) v Glebe Lions U9's (3) AET
Another hard match saw the Lion's progress to the next round after Extra-time over a very good Phoenix side. This was a good test and showed that the boy's can compete at a higher level when required.
They had to come back as once again they went a goal behind when Phoenix scored after 8mins with their first real attack. The goal came when they won the ball out wide but it still took a slick move and finish from close range to beat Ben but this only stung the Lions into action as they replied quickly when George scored a typical poachers goal after the keeper had spilled a shot from Nathan.
Manny, George, Nathan and Bailey were doing a fantastic job in preventing Phoenix from getting forward too often and Sam and Fraser were only called into action on a couple of occasions which they handled with the usual aplomb. The defensive pair were back to their best after the early setback and were instrumental in the way the boy's played a more controlled and crisper passing game than we had seen in the last few weeks due to a good pitch.
Zak and Noah were now on and they continued the good work of their team mates by moving the ball around slickly to create several chances which went close. The Lions took a deserved lead due to Nathan's tenacity when he hussled a defender to win the ball and then beat another with good footwork, he then finished smartly into the bottom corner. 1-2 at half time.
The second half mirrored the first with both sides having good possession in midfield but Glebe had the more clear cut chances to score. Just as we thought the game was going in our favour the referee awarded a penalty to Phoenix, Ben went the right way but was beaten by a very good shot from their strikers left foot.
The team worked hard to get the winner but Phoenix were resolute in their defending. Bailey was denied when he hit a fantastic shot just wide and Noah nearly repeated his goal from last week but just failed to find the finish. Extra- time beckoned once more in the London Cup and as in the last round they tried hard to get the winner but it just would not come. Several attempts were dispelled by Phoenix as they stood firm. The best chance came when Manny worked his magic down the left wing and delivered a great cross which beat everyone including Zak who should have scored a header from a yard out, but it was not to be!! The boys were spared penalties when George capped off his Man of the Match display with a header in the second half of extra-time. The team really should be applauded for their "Never say Die" spirit which got them through once more. BRAVO!!!!!!!!!
MATCH STATS
Goals
George (2)
Nathan (1)
Man of the Match
George
Glebe Lions U9's (3) v Langley Hawks U9's (0)
The Lions maintained their unbeaten record for the season with a win over a hard working Langley side. They could have won more convincingly but for a very resolute goalkeeper who kept the scoreline respectable.
The scoring began in the 5th minute with Zak who started the move in his own half by laying the ball off to Noah who found Manny out wide and his great cross was finished off from close range by Zak who had made his way into the box. It seemed that this would start an avalanche of goals as the Lions had most of the posession in Langley's half but they did not score the second until the 40th minute when Manny hit a thunderbolt from outside the box. The 3rd goal came seconds later with Noah scoring his first goal for the club when he swivelled on a sixpence and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
In between the goals there were many efforts from Bailey, Manny, George, Nathan and Fraser but all of these were interspersed with some fine defending by Sam, Fraser and excellent tackling from Nathan who deservedly won the Man of the Match.
MATCH STATS
Goals
Zak (1)
Manny (1)
Noah (1)
Man of the Match
Nathan
6/11/11
Glebe Puma U9's (2) v Glebe Lions U9's (2)
This fixture will alway's be difficult for both sides as the boy's know each other well. As expected the game was quite evenly matched as the two sides fought for everything. The Lion's were caught cold as the Puma's scored from the first attack, when Kavarn ran through unmarked from a throw and hit a well struck shot into the roof of the net.
This stung the Lions into action and they had a couple of efforts go just wide from George and Manny. Then it was the Puma's turn as Kavarn continued to keep Sam and Nathan busy at the back. In midfield Bailey and Zak were being matched for work rate by Liam and Harry. Midway through the half Manny was rewarded for his hard work and equalised from close range. This period of the game saw the Lion's on top as Fraser came into the heart of defence and this seemed to steady the team. Noah was now up front causing problems by playing some neat passing which allowed Manny, George and Nathan to get beyond the defence but Mark was having a good game in goal. The Lions then took the lead when George scored with a smart flick over the keepers head. 1-2 at half time.
As in the 1st half the game was being fiercely contested in midfield and chances were few and far between although Noah and Manny went close for the Lions. Then the ref awarded a free kick just outside the box for the Puma's which Harry took, he struck an excellent shot which hit the post.
Zak was starting to find some freedom down the right and he had a couple of efforts go close after some good passing from Bailey and Nathan who were starting to move the ball well. Noah was having a very good game up front as he linked well with the wide players. This saw him win the Man of the Match award for the Lion's.
But the Puma's were still well in this match and TJ showed great technique to square the game with a spectacular overhead kick from a corner. The last few minutes were tense as both teams tried to win it but neither could take advantage and the match ended with a well earned point for both sides. All in all a fair result!!
MATCH STATS
Goals
Manny (1)
George (1)
Man of the Match
Noah
