Bedmond 3 Lion's 2

Breachwood Lion's start the new year playing three cup competition games in three successive weeks. The first was today's County Intermediate Cup game(Round4) away to Bedmond in Hemel. Bedmond play in Division One of the Watford League.

The Lion's starting eleven: Sanchez, A.Jefferies, French, Fildes, Harrison, Turkentine, Crisp, Burnage, D.Jefferies, Canning & Collins.

Breachwood started the livelier of the two teams taking the game to Bedmond, with early chances falling to Ali Collins, Graham Crisp and Danny Jefferies.
The Lion's held their own defensively with composed tackling from Adam Jefferies, French, Fildes and inceptions from Harrison. Breachwood continued to press Bedmond with good passing play particularly with Turkentine attacking through the midfield. Ian Canning came close with a header from a ball whipped in by Burnage, but it went just over the bar. There were initial glimmers of what the Watford Division One side where capable of when their centre back struck a shot from outside the box and hit the outside of the far post. The breakthrough came for Bedmond when Breachwood we unable to clear a loose ball and at the second attempt their right winger managed to get his cross into the Lion's penalty area, but unfortunately the ball deflected off the outstretched leg of Graham French and went in off the post for an own goal.

The Lion's went in one nil down at half time but knew they had the most attempts on goal in the first half.

The game became more stretched in the second half, into a more typical cup tie. Both teams tried to out manoeuvre the opposition. Crisp and Burnage did well on the wings for Breachwood. Bedmond became a little bit more weary of what Collins and Canning could potentially do, Danny Jefferies and Iain Turkentine kept the pace going for the Lion's in midfield. Bedmond got their second goal when their right winger managed to cross the ball into the Lion's box, the centre forward with his back to goal was able to hit the ball on the turn. It looked as if the ball was going over the bar until it dipped just under Sanchez's crossbar. At two nil the scoreline was a little flattering to Bedmond. Breachwood were determined to still make something of the game. Danny Dye replaced Harrison in midfield and straight away he was in the heart of the action.

The Lion's were back in the game when a Sanchez clearance was picked up by Ali Collins on the half way line, he turned with one flick of the ball to beat two players and set himself up to run at the two centre backs. Collins dribbled into the box and shot the ball into the bottom corner of the net pass an outstretched goalkeeper for 2-1

Bedmond seemed to sense that Breachwood were in fighting mode, and attacked as the best form of defence. They had a fifteen minute spell that brought the best out of Sanchez in the Breachwood goal. He got down low to save several shots and turned many more over the bar from close range.

Bedmond's third goal came from a counter attack after the Lions had been pushing hard for the equaliser. A clearance found their right winger and he dug out a cross over the Lion's defence to the far post. A Bedmond forward just managed to turn the ball into the net before it went out of play for 3-1

The Lion's continued to go forward with fresh legs. Substitutes Rob Pearson and Ian Abrahams replaced Burnage and Crisp. Immediately Pearson found space on the right wing and linked well with Ali Collins. Collins managed to get a shot in at goal from an acute angle forcing the Bedmond keeper to parry the shot, but only into the feet of Ian Canning who makes no mistake from six yards.

The final score was Bedmond 3 Lion's 2 but Bedmond's route to the last sixteen was by no means the formality they had anticipated.

Sanchez was the Manager's Man of the Match and wins a meal for two in the Red Lion.

Substitutes not used: Jordan, D.Farr, P.Farr.

Another big thank you to our supporters who made the journey to Hemel Hempstead: Simon & Julie Jefferies, Beeny, Mel, Laura, Merg, Ash, Greg & Wayne.