Match Review: FC Nippon vs Gaelic Lions FC

• -- Kei YAMAGUCHI
• -- Takuya ASUKABE
• -- Yoshiaki MOTOHASHI
• -- Makito NAKATA
• -- Takuya TAKAHASHI
• -- Yu TAKADA
• -- Seiichiro OIYAMA
• -- Tetsu KAKIMOTO
• -- Yusuke ISODA
• -- Takao NAKASUJI
• -- Wataru HASEGAWA

• -- Shinpei NOGAWA
• -- Yusuke WATANABE
• -- Ryo SUZUKI

Change of the pace

Our new match strategy worked well in previous two games. But we could not maintain it strictly as previous games. A bit more space was given to Lions and they made use of it. Lions took initiative of the game first. 02: Lions corner kick. 03: CB Nama was still in front after corner kick. A clear ball happened to be a pass to him. He faced the GK but.... 45: Nippon was defending mostly in the first half. 51: Lions changed the pace. They let us roll the ball. But they scored by counter attacking. (0-1) 57: They scored again. (0-2) The game was almost set. 67: Kaki scored from short and quick passes just out side of the penalty box. (1-2) 75: We tried to dominate the game but couldn't. Lions scored from a corner kick. (1-3) The Lions's change of the pace in 51 minuets was the key. They let us dominate the possession at this time but they conquered the game in the end.

• Wilfried Lapierre DF
• Sam Balls MD
• Petesy O'Brien MD
• Anders Jensen --
• Neil Corrigan --
• Brett Bowman --
• Stephen Moran --
• Rob Church --
• John Mescall --
• Ryan McEneaney --
• Kike Perconig --

• Conor McHugh --
• Paddy Flynn --
• Ciaran McGoldrick --

Sobriety is the spice of life

It's never dull at Lions Mansions and Saturday morning's group whatsapp exchanges were truly something to behold, even by our standards. I had planned to smash my customary eight cans and enjoy our game against one of my favourite Cosmo teams, our Japanese friends Nippon F.C. however the Gods of alcoholism conspired against me when we had four pull-outs (fnaaar fnaaaaaar) in the hours preceding the game meaning I had to once again enter the Tardis and channel my inner 2002 by togging-out and potentially having to play a game of football. Our excuses were far and wide, hamstring strains, illnesses (genuine, mind you), running marathons, work issues - if you can call playing golf work and my own personal favourite - pulling a glute at hot yoga that very morning. Congratulations, Mark Hanley, named and shamed. Staggering fuckholery, as you so eloquently described it yourself, sir. The game itself was quite standard against Nippon, we gave the ball away, they kept it for 11 minutes. We gave the ball away, they kept it for 9 minutes. We had a water break. We gave the ball away, they kept it for 13 minutes. This time when we got the ball we kept it for a while - ludicrous thinking, I know, but we stopped by-passing the midfield and stopped throwing Hollywood balls over the top into the ever-growing gap between their center halves and their 'keeper and we tried to keep it on the deck and play some 'ball ourselves. It worked and we got into our stride. Half-time came and went and we introduced Conor for Brett and then an enforced change when Willy pulled an ovary and had to make way for Paddy but everything happens for a reason and within a few moments we were one up when a good break saw some lovely composure from Conor to square for Paddy to make it 1-0. 5 minutes later Conor got in on the act with a well-taken goal to make it 2-0 and we were finally settled except for dastardly Nippon and their own gameplan to score which they promptly did to make it 2-1 and a nervy last 25 minutes or so. It's normally around this time that I am trying to scruff someone's missus on the touchline and don't really see any of the game but due to my sobriety I had to endure the last portion of the game by actually watching it and I was delighted to see us see the game out, by playing smart in possession and taking all of the sting out of the game. Rhino popped up from a well slung in corner to bury a header past the 'keeper to make it 3-1 and that was that. In the end I didn't have to come on and I was thrilled at the end hah hah, so much fun! My only opportunity to get lamped and avoid all aspects of reality quashed for a whole week. This shall be rectified next Saturday when we meet the leather-trousered sausage munching German All-Stars to a soundtrack of adult-oriented 70's Euro Rock. FUCK YEH! Looking forward to it (beers).