Match Review: Hibernians FC vs Gaelic Lions FC

• GK Vishnu Murali
• DF Jamie Barnes
• DF Chris Boylen
• DF Chaouki Saybi
• DF Nick Edwards
• MD Julio Vasquez
• MD Julian Cardona
• MD Andrew Knott
• ST Daniel Martin
• ST Sergio Moreno
• -- Shazri Sofi

• MD Steve Cipriani
• -- Ondrej Dolezal
• -- Andrew Talbot

False Start

This obviously wasn't the start we were looking for. The first 25 minutes or so were fine. We had good energy, won some balls high up the pitch with our pressure, and played with a bit of composure. Didn't manage to create anything clear-cut, but Sergio and Julio both had shots from outside the box that just flex wide of the post after some nice build up. But toward the end of the first half Gaelic started to turn the game, building a bit of pressure around our box, and maybe should have gone in ahead after creating a few chances. We also lost Nick when a clash of heads left him getting his face fanned and brow stroked on the sideline. He understandably stayed where he was and we missed his organisation. A reaction was needed to swing things back our way, but instead Gaelic made one of their set plays count shortly after half time. We never really got back in it from there, failing to trouble their keeper all half and letting in a couple more as we pushed to get something going. Gaelic might have had more if it wasn't for some great covering tackles from Jamie, who our MoM. We'll get on the training pitch and look to do ourselves more justice against Nippon in a couple of weeks.

• Shailer Thomas GK
• Hans Van Den Hoogen DF
• Wilfried Lapierre DF
• Will Sexton DF
• Adam Smith MD
• James Blythe MD
• Chris Leighton MD
• Dom Marwood MD
• Daire Flanagan ST
• Xavier Sproule ST
• Chris Keay --

• Allan O'Donahue --

The Green Derby

Whilst Football came to a standstill elsewhere, it was back with a bang on Singapore's hallowed Astro turf. Two evenly matched Teams where not lacking in commitment or endeavor but first day of the season and for the first 20 at least the ball was pinging around like the proverbial Hot Potato. After the water break both teams settled down and was a much tidier afair chances getting created at both ends but mainly from afar, Hibs in particular had a few decent long rangers. Zip zip at half time, The lions had just a little more in the tank than Hibs in the second half and eventually took a deserved lead from an Adam Smith Corner which Al powered Home. The corner won due to a nice move when James Blyth was unlucky not to secure the games Opener. The second arrived about 10 minutes later when Al popped up again in the Hibs penalty area, a couple of nice touches before an empathic finish. Lions saw the game out after that, although HIbs never gave up and made a few chances of their own. The game was eventually put to bed when great work up top from Daire Flanagan released a lightning pass to Smithy, who possibly just inside the opponents half powered through the HIbs defence and finshed a brilliant individual goal with a cool Finish in the bottom left corner. First game of the season and Adam has ruined the Goal of the Season competition on the opening day rendering the next 23 games useless in that particular category. Lions had great performances all over the park, Big Al gets the MOM but plenty of other very valid options and a clean sheet for the defence says it all about the boys at the back. Jaime Barnes the pick of the Hibs lads for us at least but a few options available them selves. Thanks to Brad and the officals for a well run game and look forward to seeing Hibs again in our two remaining games with them.