The Lions started the new year on the wintery waste lands of Bentley West against old foes Beechdale in the Steve Richards Cup. The earlier matches had been called off due to the pitches being frozen but the heat produced by the chaffing of Andy Parfitt’s thighs in his ill fitting nylon refereeing shorts was enough to ensure our fixture was saved by Parfitts warm front!!!
The Lions against Beechdale are always tightly contested derby style battles and The Dale looking to avenge two narrow defeats from last season were quickly out of the blocks. The Lions defence stood firm from the early barrage and won the ball in defence and counter attacked with an excellent pass to Rhys ‘lightening’ Parry who ran though there defence and slotted the ball passed the advancing goalkeeper! Wyrley quickly got a grip of the game and Rhys Lightening made it 2-0 just before half time. Ryan ” The Prodical Son” Wood made his second debut for the Lions with Alex Jones in the first half replacing Owen “Yaya” Lloyd and the excellent Aaron Clee for a more attacking midfield.
Second half was more of the same with the Lions playing some excellent football out from the back, with one such move being played from the back by Joshuar’ Superstar’ Guest to Connor’ Harrold’ Lloyd to the overlapping ‘Psycho’ Stevens then through midfield by L I am to Lightening for his hat trick!
The manager had asked both wing backs to push forward more and overlap when we had the ball and if they got the chance to get a shot off. Connor ‘Psycho’ Stevens who had been putting in some nasty in swinging left foot corners was finally rewarded with a goal after nearly a 3 year wait!!! ( he was last seen heading towards Bilston up the Black country Route with his shirt over his head!!) With the Lions tails up now the fifth goal came from Ryan Wood with a long range toe poke. ( they all count Woody!!) L I am was finally given a rest and replaced by Harrison ‘Dennis’ Weaver who went on and harassed Beechdale’s already tired defence! To cap off an already fantastic performance Richie ‘Titch’ Sutton pushed up from right wing back to crack a fantastic sixth in to the top corner from outside the box!!
Dream Land!!! six goals against a good team, a clean sheet, both wing backs scoring and a fantastic footballing performance, it doesn’t get much better! With fantastic performances from everyone it was difficult to pick a man of the match but L I am shaded it with another fantastic performance!!
Well done boys, keep playing the football and the wins will come!!!