Match Report

County Cup, 6^th January 2008

Final Result – Red Lion FC (Doncaster) 2 (Home) vs. FC Brimington 6 (Away)

Venue – Marlboro Playing Fields, Askern Doncaster.

Managers View

The weather was surprisingly warm today considering this game was to be played previously in minus conditions the previous year December 16^th 2007. The sun was shining the pitch sticky but flat and playable with wind at a minimum. Our progress in this cup competition hinged on how we prepared as a team after the Christmas break, we managed 6 hours training between Sunday 30^th and today with virtually all the players suffering some form of cold or flu in the holidays and some still carrying the effects, it was vital that preparations was of high importance. Our opponents today have not lost all season and have an unbeaten home record of some 25 games so the task was deemed arduous has we knew nothing about their league. We decided to focus on the way we play. Unlike the previous game we welcomed back Simon Newton goalkeeper after his one match ban which sent confidence high. This game being the farthest so far we’ve had to travel some 40 miles one way meant we had to be up earlier than normal to travel up to nearby pontefract up the A1. Team formation today 4-3-3

The starting line for today's match was as follows:  

Match day reporters – Tom Simpson

Photographer – Mrs Kealey

First Half

The game kicked off at 10.53am FCB decided to play at a high tempo to see if they could live with us. First real action of the game was a Crossland cross in the box but no one to meets. FCB win a corner collier takes and Crossland flicks on with his head, Brookey strikes but hits the side netting. 3mins in Gartlan breaks through with his instant pace and skips past the right back and plays to Kealey who make a darting run he latches onto the pass and strikes only for the lion keeper to be a measure for the shot. The pressure is building towards a goal from us and we know that the early possession has to reap the rewards. 5 mins in Christie drops deep when lion attack, Brookey breaks up play and sends the ball back to Christie some 30 yds out from goal back facing he holds up the ball and flicks it into Kealey’s run who gathers and accelerates in front of the centre halves who tried in vain to catch him but he coolly takes it into the box and slots away for a goaaal  1-0 FCB.

FCB win a free-kick Collier takes and sends into the box with brookey to meet and heads up their keeper comes to punch the ball and miss hits to Gartlan who pounces on the loose ball and shoots into a group of defenders view it here. Another chance falls to Kealey who is rampant but this time he shoots straight at the keeper who saves. Free-kick taken by Hirons he delivers into the box Christie rises to meet and heads wide. Free-kick taken by Collier from the left, Kealey looses his markers and jumps as high as Michael Jordan he heads with venom it shaves the crossbar and goes out of play. Lions first real assault on our goal is dealt with by Newton in an authoritative manner. 20 mins Brookey is fouled and we win another free-kick Simpson takes the free-kick and sends towards Christie who heads wide. Great play from Crossland who sees Christie’s run into the channel on the right side who then passes an accurate ball some 25yds in front so Christie did not have to break stride Christie then cuts across the left back into the 18 yd box towards the keeper and cuts it back to Kealey who is tracking Christies run Kealey receives the pass some 8yds out and buries it goaaal 2-0 FCB.

27 mins Crossland runs past his man on the far right and delivers a cross to the far post but no one was there to meet it. The first real scare from lions they hit our post we were somewhat fortunate as it was only their first real effort this may have gave them impetus which we rather not give at this stage. With Thomas still suffering the flu and his chest tightening for air we substituted him for Andrew Bath, Brookey went right back and Bathy the holding midfield role. 30 mins a neat flick from Kealey finds Christie some 14yds out from goal Christie shows his class once again and spins and volleys into the roof of the net goaaal 3-0 FCB view it here this was Christies 18^th goal in 15 appearances this season not bad for the big man.

Lion’s with a shot but its over the bar. FCB free-kick Collier takes and finds Crossland in the box he heads for goal and the keeper saves. We held our game and did not force it until half time.

Half time

we spoke at half time about not making errors and keeping it simple we chose to stay in the formation as we felt it was a deterrent and also an opportunity to counter attack if they gambled with more players up front.

Second Half

2^nd half kicked off with a Bathy shot but is deflected over for a corner. Gartlan is put through by Collier on a 1v1 with the keeper he seems to have an age as no one was near him but he shoots wide! view it here. Christie said to me before the game today that he would not have a miss like Jon Utaka did for Portsmouth vs Ipswich in the FA cup on Saturday but fate conspired and yes Christie did, Gartlan breaks through on the left and beats the right back he then sucks out the centre half as it looks like he is going for goal himself, but he cleverly by-passes the defender and the keeper who anticipated an assault on the near post by crossing a low drill ball to Christie unmarked at the far post Christies seems to think he’s scored already and smiled and totally lost concentration and misses the ball! view it here.

55 mins Gartlan again rampages down the left he again beats the right back and delivers a stunning ball into the box Christie heads towards goal and the keeper parries to the oncoming Kealey some 8yds out Kealey hits on the volley but skews the shot wide, yet another miss within the last 5 mins. Christie breaks through from a pass from Bathy,  he gets in front of the centre half and shoots some 10yds out with lions keeper racing towards him but his shot is straight at the keeper and he saves, but Kealey yet again follows up beautifully and gathers the ball the defender launches a last gasp tackle as the keeper is on the floor some 10yds out but Kealey coolly turns him to shoot into the open goal but the defender grabbed him around the leg and rugby tackles him to the ground a penalty is awarded and a yellow card administered. Crossland steps up to take the penalty and duly scores even though the keeper guessed right and got a hand to it goal 4-0 FCB.

60 mins another break this time on the left saw Kealey put through with a delightful ball from Brookey the keeper races out and Kealey goes for the lob but its head height and the keeper parries the ball to safety.  Christie again is through 1v1 with the keeper and yet again we miss another as he shoots at the keeper view it here. With all this domination and many missed opportunities more goals were sensed by FCB, Gartlan once again evades the right back and crosses this time to Christie who makes no mistake and heads home goal 5-0 FCB view it here.

70 mins Christie is fouled in the box and another penalty is awarded Crossland gave Kealey the opportunity to get his hatrick by offering him the spot kick Kealey dispatches the kick clinically goaaal 6-0 FCB view it here.

Now at 6-0 FCB takes the foot off the pedal and credit to Red Lion FC they kept going with desire to improve the score-line, that is the spirit you can only ask of your players. Red Lion did just that and on 75^th min Lions score as the left winger beat Brookey at right back and crosses low they meet the cross and score 6-1 FCB. Subsitution Gartlan off Fadiga on, Fadiga receives the ball and delivers a cross Kealey meets but shoots wide. Lion buoyed by the goal throw caution to the wind and attack in numbers  they have a shot but Newton saves. 83 mins a mistake in the centre of defence allows the striker to get behind our centre halves and a clever pass finds him his first touch gets him in front as Newton races out of goal but he rounds Newton and scores with a cheeky header on the goal line 6-2 FCB. FCB go to 4-4-2 and leave Flo and Christie up front, Bath crosses from the left and finds Christie at the far post he cleverly checks the ball back to Fadiga who some 7 yds out shoots over the bar as the defender approaches him . the game shortly game to a close.

Full time

Summary

Great application from all players today we should have hit double figures with the clear cut chances we created. We have to work on our concentration when we have a big lead so not to concede unnecessarily.

Kealey man of match superb display and there is more to come Gartlan and Christie with Kealey are a handful lets work on the partnership. Brookey superb today in both positions. And the defence a towering performance kept them out for 90% of the game. Crossland was superb in the middle with the clever passing range and understanding he struck up with Collier. Bathy’s fitness is improving, Thanks to Thomas Brookes parents who came along to support us on an 80 mile round trip! I hope you enjoyed the game. Thanks to Simmo and mrs Kealey for the match reporting and videos and thanks to Phil and Isabelle at the Brickmakers Arms Brimington Common and the staff for the matchday post match hospitality.

Cliff Thomas