Butler was the Referee in today's Division 2 home game against Procladd. Procladd have been on a good run since they were beaten 8-1 by the Lion's at Chells in October. Graham French was in goal for the absent Sanchez in the Lion's starting eleven of: French, P.Farr, A.Jefferies, Fildes, Jordan, Crisp, Dye(C), D.Jefferies, Harrison, Burnage and Harvey.
The Lion's got off to a brisk start with Pete Farr neatly placing the ball into space down the right wing for Burnage to attack. Minute's later Burnage's pass found the feet of Danny Jefferies, who had spotted that the Procladd keeper was off his line. As if it was in the script, Jefferies scored with yet another trademark chip from forty yards.
Then the fun began when Procladd scored from the restart. A long ball found the centre forward who was able to beat the Lion's defence to nip the ball pass French into the net. Literally minutes later Procladd took the lead with an almost identical move.
Unruffled, Breachwood continued to attack with the lion's share of possession. Danny Jefferies threaded the ball to the feet of John Harvey, who was able to shimmy past the first defender only for the second defender to take his feet away. Referee Butler awarded the Penalty. A cool and composed Graham Crisp stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way with a right foot shot placed into the bottom left hand corner of the net. It was his first goal of the season and the equaliser for Breachwood.
Procladd continued to make a game of it when they caught Breachwood on the break, The centre forward was able to round Goalkeeper French and shoot from an acute angle.A sliding Andy Fildes was unable to stop the ball for going over the line for a goal.
Feeling that they were in the ascendancy, Procladd continued to attack, with three quick forward players linking well from long balls. They nearly increased their lead. Lion's keeper Graham French diving low to turn a fierce shot onto the post with one hand and then minutes later saving from close range.
Lion's were unable to equalise before half time when a Burnage corner found Andy Fildes at the back post. Despite his quick reactions, his shot hit the post.
3-2 to Procladd at half time. Lion's Manager Mick French changed the formation slightly for the second half. Substitute Ian Canning replaced Peter Farr.
Canning made an immediate impact supporting striker John Harvey, but it was Adam Burnage who had drifted in from the right to pick up the ball on the left-hand edge of the penalty area. He dragged a left foot shot back across the goal, out of reach of the outstretched keeper to find the far corner of the net to give the Lion's another equaliser.
The Lion's then regained the lead at 4-3. A Burnage free kick bobbled around in the area until Danny Dye's shot was saved,but John Harvey was quick to react on the edge of the six yard box to squeeze a shot into the side netting of the goal through a well defended goal line.
Procladd were determined to get back into the game with a fast counter attack down the left wing. A deep cross pulled back across the Lion's penalty area found an unmarked Procladd forward with space to sweep the ball into the corner of the Lion's net for 4-4.
Lion's pushed on from the restart, Danny Jefferies beat three Procladd players with a back heal pass down the left wing for Harrison to cross for another attack. Adam Jefferies got back into the game with some fine tackling and Pete Jordan was confidently able to clear long balls from the Lion's defence.
However Procladd managed to retake the lead when Harrison was deemed to of fouled near the Lion's own right hand corner flag. Procladd scored with a header from the resulting free kick.
Substitute Rob Pearson replaced Harrison, and made some great runs down the left wing.
Losing 4 - 5, Captain Danny Dye drove his men forward with less than ten minutes to go. Burnage got a throw in on the right hand side. From the throw Danny Jefferies let the ball roll across his body into a yard of space and launched a left foot shot goalwards into the far corner of the net for 5-5.
With only minutes remaining, midfielder Graham Crisp proved to be a tricky customer when he was fouled on the left wing just outside the box.
It was nearly a replica of his last cup final goal, when Burnage stepped up to curl the free kick into the far top right hand corner of the Procladd goal to give Lion's all the points.
It was a great game with lots of goals for any neutrals. Procladd are certainly an improved young side and they should continue to do well in this Division.
Peter Jordan was today's Manager's Man of the Match and get a meal for two in his own pub, The Red Lion.
Substitute not used: D.Farr
A big thanks you to our village supporters who braved the cold including: The Jefferies Family, The Dye's, Ash, Wayne, Laura and Beanwack.
