Lion's starting eleven: Fildes, Lewis, J.Mason, Turkentine(C), A.Jefferies, Dye, Taaffe, Canham, Hansen, Rees, Collins
Recent games between these two sides have been close high scoring games, so with the edge of a cup tie, it was going to be an interesting game. However both sides missed a number of chances in the first half with the nil nil at half time. Chequers could of scored with a header from a corner going straight over bar. Canham blasted over the bar from close range and Taaffe hit the outside of the post from the edge of the box. Collins hit a low free kick from inside the D.
Breachwood had the advantage fo the King Georges downhill slope in the second half and were able to put together some great passing movements in midfield, Adam Jefferies played a couple of cunning diagonal crosses from deep to the Lions forwards, whilst twinkle toes Dan Dye and Richard Taaffe sprayed the ball out wide to either Hanson or Canham. The two winger swapped sides in an effort to break the deadlock.
Carl Thompson on the Chequers goal pulled off a couple of close range saves from Martin Rees and from Sam Canham after he nutmegged the defender.
However the deadlock was broken when centre forward Ali Collins worked an extra yard to the side of the defender into the box to fire a low shot under the Chequers keeper 7 minutes from time.
The game looked won but two minutes later the Chequers forward who had been pressing the Lions back four for most of the game was able to find the space to turn a defender a shoot pass Brendan Hansen , now in goal after Andy Fildes went off with a thigh strain.
The game went into extra time and Breachwood benefitted from the fresh legs of midfield maestro John Griffin in midfield. Iaian Turkentine put in a man of the match performance as the last man, but James Mason and Scotty Lewis anticipated the final through ball from Chequers more often than not.
Graham French replaced Adam Jefferies.
Just as the game looked like it was going to penalties,an uncontested ball in the air enabled Taaffe turn and pull off an acrobatic shot to score the winner at 2-1
A great game played by both sides.
Thank you to our supporters.
