The match was almost postponed after the referee pulled out of the fixture only minutes before kick-off. Fortunately, for all involved a back-up official was sourced and the game kicked off, just half an hour later than scheduled.
Lions were boosted by some quality with Andy Glynne, Austin Lipman and Adam Burchell all making themselves available for selection. James Gold, Harry Marlow, Cam Most and Max Hassell returned to the squad after a week away.
Jon Ellis filled in between the sticks as a mini goalkeeping crisis has prevented Lions from fielding the same keeper week in, week out. Ellis was impressive throughout, pulling off a number of fantastic saves and showed strong leadership as the game became tense in the final period.
Lions dominated possession and created a number of chances in the first half. It was only a matter of time until Adam Arnold found himself on the edge of the Brady box with his back to goal; the Lions talisman, swivelled away from his marker and struck a crisp low shot which nestled into the corner of the goal.
The one-goal advantage didn’t last long as Brady top-scorer Reiss Mogilner found himself through on goal after taking advantage of some careless passing from Lions inside their own half to make it 1-1.
A rough patch in the latter stages of the first half for Lions, saw them continue to show complacency with and without the ball. This period saw Brady score the next two successive goals before half-time to be 3-1 ahead via Mogilner and Sam Monjack.
Although Lions were two goals behind, they went into the second half with the same confidence and belief that they started the game with. Lions have found themselves behind in some big games this season which have resulted in them coming back to seal victory, so this was not an unfamiliar scenario.
Within minutes of the second half it was 3-2, as Burchell latched onto to the end of a dangerous, whipped cross from Lipman.
With Sam Arghebant and Ben Lampert moving balls from midfield, forward and wide to the Lions attacking quartet a lot quicker than in the first half, Lions could sense an equaliser was on its way.
Good passing play saw Arnold race clear and shoot on goal, but his shot was parried out by the Brady stopper. However, unfortunately for the keeper, it fell into the path of Lipman, who took full advantage of the opening, half volleying the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards out, 3-3.
Lipman and Arnold’s intricate passing only got better as the half went on and a good ball wide found the returning James Gold who busted his gut to keep the ball in play, he followed this by pulling back a tidy ball to the feet on an onrushing Burchell who slammed the ball home, in off the cross bar from an acute angle to give Lions a 4-3 lead. A clinical finish from the wide man.
As the half went on, Brady began to press more offensively, but Lions back line held firm, with Will Beresford, Alex Taylor, Glynne, Hassell and Most all putting in a dogged defensive shift, led by Ellis in goal.
As Brady continued to press, Lions found themselves in a position to counter-attack and some good work involving Burchell, found James Gold free on the right, inside the box, who unleashed a good strike into the roof of the net, to give Lions a 5-3 victory.
A Lions spokesman told JC Sport: "It was a great comeback from a Lions side that showed no fear and tremendous character coming back from being two goals behind.
"Going forward, Lions created numerous chances in both halves, but were unforgiving in the second half. There are some huge games coming up over the next couple of weeks, that will be likely to determine whether this side can win some silverware come the end of the season."
BRADY: Harry Fine, Sam Castle, David James Cohen, Rob Cohen, Elliot Dagul, Daniel Harrod, Ben Kohler, Reiss Mogilner, Samuel Monjack, Marc Rister. Casey Sharpe. Sub: Dan Cohen
SCORERS: Mogilner (2), Monjack
LIONS: Jon Ellis, Richard Gold, Alex Taylor, Andy Glynne, Will Beresford, Ben Lampert, Harry Marlow, Sam Arghebant, Adam Arnold, Austin Lipman, Adam Burchell. Subs: Max Hassell, Cam Most, James Gold
SCORERS: Burchell 2, Arnold, Lipman, Gold
