Match Review: Hotspurs FC vs International Lions FC

• GK Fahmy Rahman
• DF Simon Hearn
• DF Jordan Martin
• MD Jack Klok
• MD Lucas Jones
• MD William Betts
• MD Jacob Hiscock
• MD Tom Ruffles
• ST Jack Skinner
• ST Sam Russell-Vick
• ST Thomas Greene

• ST Kevin Philemon
• ST George Evans
• ST Joseph Hughes

3 points on the board

Hotspurs start strong with a dominating first quarter, with Tiny hot on their heels and the Lions keeper feeling the pressure. Just before the water break, a well-worked team move sent Tiny racing down the right wing. He cut the ball back across the box where Tom Ruffles in a rich vain of form slotted the ball into the top corner from mid-way inside the opposition's box. The second quarter saw the Lions take more control of the ball, forcing some good saves from Fahmy. The Lions managed to nick a goal back before the break with a strong finish from the attacker, who scored in the bottom corner on the half-volley turn, leaving Fahmy helpless. Hotspurs though ending the half strong, with 5+ corners in a row, but no one could put one in the net. Ultimately, we came into halftime thinking we should have been ahead. Out for the past 6 weeks with a hammy, half time saw the return of Joe who came on to add more firepower and creativity down the right wing. It wasn't long before his impact was felt - a Hotspurs attack seeing a ball being whipped into a car crash of Lions bodies in the box with the ball bouncing off Ruffles and dribbling into the back of the net. After a lot of angry French shouting, both teams were ready to reset. Until the lino had his moment giving a free kick from nowhere, claiming a foul, despite the Lions defender clearly being wiped out by his own goalkeeper. The final quarter saw George and debutant Kevin make appearances. After a comical DOTD ice skating performance Bambi would be proud of from George in the first 5 mins, Hotspurs had a break on goal. A strong tackle from Joe in the middle of the park saw him shift the ball out to George on the wing before an acute pass back to Joe whose scuffed shot followed by a groan of disappointment saw the ball roll past the keeper and slip in the near post. 2-1 Hotspurs. The last 15 mins saw Hotspurs dig in with a commanding back line of Jake and Jordan keeping out the Lions and concluding a 2-1 win for the Hotspurs. A great and even game for both teams having plenty of chances. Hotspurs Judas Lionel, who made a sudden transfer to Lions in the season's gooch, wore the armband for the opposition. But Hotspurs prevailed (for once) with 3 points and a skip up the league. Great to have Joe back in a Hotspurs shirt and an honourable mention to debutant Kevin, who almost scored screamer with his first touch in 2 years. E I E I O, up the football league we go.

• Jarar GK
• Pablo Tougard DF
• Loqmen Saf DF
• Pierre Colin DF
• Ismail Bardach MD
• Lionel Kong MD
• Juan Jose Varela Navalon MD
• Louis Chevallier Villas Boas MD
• Karim Azzedine MD
• David Park ST
• Marvin Martin ST

• Raynal Singh DF
• Ryan Taylor ST

Another tough day for Lions...

With 16 players absent for this match, we had to nearly rebuild a 'new' team up until the last moment. Nothing should be taken away from the well-deserved victory of the Hotspurs, who executed brilliantly on the 2-3 opportunities they had and they fantastic defense. All the best for the season. For the Lions, we'll come back stronger... again...