FA CUP SECOND PRELIMINARY QUALIFYING ROUND
CHALFONT ST PETER 1 LONDON LIONS 0
Lions were again looking a little makeshift on the team-sheet with new faces and new positions for some, but this was quickly disregarded as the Blues showed some real grit and resilience following an initial onslaught from their higher league hosts.
The back line of Ollie Craig, Adam Lipman, Sam Hamerton and Adam Harvey were being kept busy, but held up well – and on the occasions they were found wanting, up stepped David Myers in the Lions goal who made two outstanding saves in the first period to keep out Chalfont.
At the other end, Keano Deacon, and Lipman in particular were coming into the game, and although Lions didn’t really create anything of note before the interval their plan to frustrate Chalfont was succeeding; with the scores remaining goalless.
After the break, Lions looked more threatening and began to penetrate with Liron Mannie now getting real joy and a couple of Lions efforts flew off target.
Again Myers was called into action as Chalfont desperately went for the win.
Halfway through the second period both teams had a goal disallowed within a minute, firstly Chalfont for a very narrow offside, before Arnold had the ball in the next only for that to be chalked off too for the same offence, although Mannie looked to have been fouled in the build-up and could well have earned Lions a penalty.
Chalfont’s crosses looked increasingly dangerous, and it was from a left wing ball that they eventually took the lead on 74 minutes with a header at the far post which Myers almost managed to keep out.
Lions now went for it, pushing their wide players on, and looked the dominant side in the final 10 minutes as they put Chalfont under sustained pressure without creating that clear cut opening to seal a deserved equaliser.
So Lions bow out the FA Cup at the second hurdle but not without some credit for a professional and determined effort against significantly higher league opposition; this bodes well for the upcoming Spartan South Midlands League and Cup games.
LIONS: David Myers, Adam Lipman, Sam Hamerton, Ollie Craig, Adam Harvey, Alex Levack, Liron Mannie, Jake Furman, Adam Arnold, Austin Lipman, Keano Deacon. Subs: Christian Edwards, Harry Hatchwell
