Meeting the Lions for the 3rd time this year meant that we know each others game, and always close. With 3 of our Vikings away the challenge was on for us.
Josh returning between the posts was helpful and early on he saved a couple of chances, with his usual speed of shutting down the opposition. Our starting 4 on pitch players of Cullen, Bastien, Maksim & Joe were doing us proud and were quickly shutting down any loose balls. Despite this, Lions went into the lead. This gave us a little wake up call and pretty quickly after, Cullen, commanding in the middle cracked a lovely shot that their goalkeepoer down well to save but Joe was on hand to volley in top bins with his knee. The tight game continued with both teams equalising each other out looking for those opportunities to break. Unfortunately for us, at a corner, the ball fell for them to smash in from close range. This was quickly followed by Josh saving a 1 on 1 but beaten on the rebound. Taking a kick to his hands, caused us to replace him with Rohan, who stepped up for us and went in goal.
Joe was non stop up and down the pitch, being joined by Rohan (second game) and Jess, saw a number of attempts to break out. A slight delay by their defender saw Joe shut him down and put the ball in through the goalies legs. Inspired by this, the Vikings were on their game and Joe went down the line and cut back in before handing a goal on the plate to Maksim, who as ever was in the right place to finish for us. Game tied. Nearing the break, a corner from Lions was smashed at Joe and despite best efforts, came off him into our net. Tight game.
Second half saw us start really well. Josh was on pitch and putting himself about, although I had to calm him down on a hasty challenge. Despite this he got on and after a lovely overlap on their defender he outsprinted him and smashed a goal in back across the goalkeeper. Joe and Cullen, Bastien had some great dribbles and were a smidgen away from scoring. We were looking good again, Cullen commanding the middle, Joe as a dynamo, Maksim looking for opportunities and it looked ours for the taking. They got another, in off the post with a good effort before Rohan saved an absolute screamer, not with his hands but his face - a proper shiner came up but he didnt even complain. A brave Viking. They scored another before Josh smashed one in top bins from a oorner.
One goal in it and it could have gone either way. Unfortunately for us, Lions took their chance and the game ended. Both teams played nice football and in the right spirit. A credit to Dunmow and good derby game..
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