Report

Great performance and great result on Saturday as Old Lyonian 3rd XI beat Old Westminster Citizens 5-4 AET.

At 1.30pm all was looking well with 9 of the team ready and on time to tackle the opposition. All we needed was the kit. With the help of a car Conor, Sam and Oli managed to arrive at 2.15pm for a 2.30 KO with the kit. The Lyons had a bit of shuffle with Sam Blackie and Chris Gooder taking up wide positions and Chris Cashman taking up his favourite position at left back.

The Lyons started brightly taking the lead through Tom Shippey after the keeper had parried a shot and Chris Gooder put us up 2-0 with a shot from 20-25 yeards, aided by a flapping keeper. The Lyons had another good chance from 20 yards when their inspirational skipper wound up a thunderbolt, only for it to be released like a F**T and dribble to their keeper.

The tide soon turned when an outstretched elbow connected with a cross in the box and a penalty was given. Westminster made it 2-1. Moments later a shot deflected in after a brave charge from the Lyons skipper made it 2-2. (I have noted that this was my only contribution to any of the goals) On the next attack a cross deflected off Dave Choy and rattled the cross bar. Not long after saw Marcus come off after a clash of knees and Samora move to the left hand side and Gooder in to the middle with Dave Jones. It was a cracking first half and was developing into a classic cup tie. We had played well with the ball, and defended properly without it.

After another penalty and another goal the Lyons found themselves 4-2 down in the second half. A parried free kick from Samora fell to Chris Gooder and another Chris Gooder free kick brough the Lyons 4-4 at the end of 90 minutes. The Lyons had done well to fight back. Other notable moments of the second half were Samora doing superbly to create some space by beating about 4 men, Tom Shippey peeling off perfectly to the left hand side of the box only for Samora to do a 'Zamora' and blast the ball high and wide. Even Tim was yelling 'pass' from right back. Head up and pass son.

The second half also saw two outstanding saves from Oli in goal. So good Oli that you are getting your own paragraph. The first was when their striker beat about 4 of our players 3 times over, and as he was about to pull the trigger Oli launched himself at the near post to pull off a great save. The second was even better. Westminster broke down the left and fizzed the ball across the box to an unmarked striker who slid the ball on the floor, only to connect with the flying Oli who had made it from one side of his goal to the other in seconds. Great save.

After 90 minutes it was 4-4 and Sam came off for Tom Hinton. Sam showed some nice touches during the game, and worked hard in defence repaying his captain's faith in his ability.

The Lyons went 5-4 up after a near post cross saw Conor beat his marker and finish superbly in the far corner. It was a great finish, and great movement. Tim went off injured and Marco came on for a crowd pleasing 25 minutes.

The Lyons were put under plenty of pressure in the second half of extra time having to defend a series of corners and free kicks. It was a heart in mouth moment when one of their players was unmarked at the back post from a corner and shot from 10 yards out only to connect with Chris' chest. We held on for 5-4, although Samora broke through late on for a 1 on 1 only for the keeper to save well. Shippey also had a couple of one on ones himself.

Overall a great performance. We played some good football, defended properly by applying pressure on the ball and cutting out options. We also never gave in.

MOTM: Chris Gooder, although everyone was excellent to be honest.