Report

The full Lions squad were looking for a swift revenge for their league defeat to the Bulkington Aces a few weeks earlier and the early signs were good. The weather was bright for this Police cup Quarter-final tie, and the Lions started the game brightly as they attacked from the whistle. Two of the Aces star players were unavailable which gave the Lions a psychological boost and they did everything to make their early pressure count but were unable to break down the Aces defence. The Lions were forced to a few long range shots, one of which from Carter from almost the half way line slipped through the keepers hands and out for a corner. The Lions worked a short corner routine straight from the training ground with Lucas & Eamonn linking up well but no-one could get on the end of the cross.
At the other end Chris & Lucas worked well to keep the Aces from giving Dylan anything to do other than collect a few loose balls. The Lions were doing well in midfield with Carter, Eamonn & Jamie winning a lot of ball but just couldn’t quite find a through ball to Joseph or beat the last tackle to get a shot away.
The Aces were forced into long range efforts and were extremely unlucky when one of these efforts hit Chris who was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball, giving the Aces a penalty. This was duly scored to make it 1-0 to Bulkington against the run of play. This seemed to knock the Lions confidence and Chris was substituted to regain his composure. Eamonn filled in at the back with Lucas with Roman now battling for every 50-50 ball in the middle of the park. A few minutes later a long through ball caused confusion in The Lions defence, and with neither the keeper nor the defenders taking charge and clearing the ball this gave the chance for the Aces striker to nip in and make it 2-0.

Half Time Ambleside Lions 0 – 2 Bulkington Aces

Lucas had given everything as usual in the first half so was put in goal for a bit of a rest with Dylan dropping into midfield. The Lions confidence had taken a knock with those two first half goals but they continued to battle on. Luke went up front as Joseph hadn’t had a sniff of a goal in the first half. Roman was really getting stuck in and Eamonn was again running his socks off. Carter, who was playing his final game for the lions, was doing his all to finish on a high note and almost grabbed a well deserved goal but was denied by an acrobatic keeper pushing his shot wide for a corner. Roman was also unlucky not to score after breaking through two tackles he fired just over.
As time wound down the Lions pushed forward and were caught napping when a quick throw to the Aces striker found him free in the box to make it 3 – 0.
The Lions forced a few half chances with Jamie and Roman linking up well but they just couldn’t get that goal which would have been so well deserved.

So the Lions were knocked out at the Quarter final stage by the Bulkington Aces for the second time this season. 

Full time Ambleside Lions 0 – 3 Bulkington Aces

Man of the match was shared between Eamonn & Roman who both put a great shift in.

Good luck Carter, hope you take to rugby as well as you did football.