colombolions.com

[andyallenone]

We need a big effort from the lads NOT going to Bankok this weekend lads. If we haven's got 11 by Thursday we might have to cancel which would be a shame. Let's keep our end up while the other lads are flying the flag in Thailand eh!

Good luck boys by the way.

Obsido Superbia.

Grrrr ....
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The Phuket 7s tournament meant that the Lions were battling on 2 fronts this weekend. Not being one of the travellers I can only speak for the home front.

An excellent show for the tournament left Colombo players a little thin on the ground - compounded by other miscellaneous absences. Early in the week it was touch and go whether the home front wuld be able to field a team at all but we took a chance and sure enough 11 Lions took to the pitch. Reinforcements were also in place in the form of regular cavalryman Chopper Best, back from the wilderness Mucky, Pablo's brother Marcus and CIS player/coach Andrew Mollat.

Without the crutch of the usual plentitude of subs the Lions were going to have to box clever to stay the distance for this one. The Bus boys had been on the receiving end of the Lions bite before and would be sure make the best of this week's smaller pride.

Seimen once again donned the number 1 shirt and stood behind defensive stalwart Steve Howard accompanied the not fully fit (but when is he ever) Andy Allen. They were flanked by Iain Dodson on the left as per and Chopper on the right. Sylvain and Laurent took up Left and right midfield respectively (and very respectably might I add). Hashim and the Glasgow galloper Mucky stood in the centre of park with Pablo and Liam chomping at the bit up front.

Whether complacency effected the over confident Bus Boys or they were over come by how these Lions were prepared to dig in will remain a mystery. However, 10 minutes hadn't passed when a selfless Pablo assist to Liam put the Lions in the lead.
Sylvain was linking Iain at left back nicely with Pablo up front and the opposition midfield had toomuch work to do, with Laurentpatrolling the right of midfield.
The opposition managed to break through our very strong defence occasionally only to be greeted by a determined Lions defence and had to rely on a couple of long range shots which didn't trouble the keeper. The Lions, in the meantime, were causing the oppo all kinds of trouble all over the pitch with Mucky solid in the middle and Hashim turning danger into opportunity with inch perfect passes into space for the marauding strikers and flankers.
The second goal was inevitable and it was no surprise that Liam ws the exectioner, this time winning the ball not far over the half way line and staying strong and on his feet till it was time to pull the trigger. And as usual, his aim was true.
The Lions continued to dominate in all areas dispite the efforts of their tricky numbers 11 and 4 who got no change from the Steve Howard/ Andy Allen combo.
Another insightful pass from Hashim started a lovely passing move which ended with what was proving to be a lethal cocktail of Pablo and Liam and Liam achieved a well earned hat-trick.
With Mucky having performed admirably in midfield it was only fair to give him a spell in his true position. Liam was sent off to the bench to work on his hat trick story, Mucky stepped up front and Andrew stood in midfield.
The change in personel may have gone unnoticed to the bystander as business as usual continued. Andrew, a natural midfielder worked hard and cut out many a potential incision and it couldn't have been written any better when 5 minutes after the substitution Mucky did what he does best and put the Lions up 4-0, a score which held till the oppo's goalie's clash with the goal post saw the first half cut, sportingly, 5 minutes short.

As expected the bus boys came out for the second half with all guns blazing. With their defence sitting on the half way line pumping the ball forward they were relying on the offside trap to thwart the Lions counter attacks perhaps taking advantage of the linesman who I believe had just become a UNESCO World Heritage Site!!
Despite the Lions being prepared for this it ws difficult to defend against and within 5 mins the Bus Boys had deservedly pulled one back, quick feet drippling round the lumbering Allen and slotting easily into goal.
The Lions continued to be pressured and any counter was thwarted by either off side decisions, rightly or wrongly, or hit-the-net-ophobia by our forwards. It wasn't long before another quick passing move and expert dribbling by the oppo number 11 earned the Bus Boys their second. This was a diferent game altogether from the one we saw in the first half. Lions were up against the ropes with only their first half double brace holding them up.
Not to be deterred though, the Lions kept battling for every ball with Andrew making himself very busy in midfield. Iain Dodson plugged the left defence with aplom and Chopper started to get the measure of their left flanker. The oppositions new tactics was taking it's toll on their defenders who had their hands full chasing Laurent, Sylvain, Liam and Pablo running onto Hashim's beautifully placed passes and it began t olook as though the Bus Boys 15 minutes of glory was over. Another passing move that would impress the current Arsenal squad saw Pablo earn his 1 of the game to add to his 3 previous assists. Man of the match was going to be a tricky choice. 5-2 and the Lions could breathe again.
With Marcus itching for a game and Mucky having rested after his first half endeavours, Andy and Pablo made way. Mucky as usual was tireless in wanting winning and using the ball well with one particular crunching tackle to stop a potential opposition surge. The frustrated oppo were beginning to get niggly and a dubious challenge which flattened young Laurent went unpunished. An example to us all, Laurent stood up and without a murmer got himself back into position and carried on as normal.
Andy took over from Seimen in goals to give him a run out-field and Laurent finally got chance t ocatch his breath after an outstanding performance on the right of midfield. Seimen dealt out some justice with a clean but firm challenge on Laurent's earlier assailant and the opposition were thinking twice about putting it about.
The relentless opposition pressure that began the 1st half finally relented. The 5th goal demoralised the opposition and it was fitting that Hashim added 2 of his own goals to the tally having played provider up till then.
A brief spat was quickly dealt with the ref after the opposition goalie manage to stamp on Liam's chest, unpunished by the otherwise competent referee.
A third consolation goal was prevented before the final whistle when a rare one-on-one gol opportunity for the Bus Boys saw stand in Goalie Andy Allen parry a close range shot which was cleared quickly his defenders.
Any doubts about the depth of the lion's squad were put away.
Final score, a well fought 7-2

Line up - Seimen, Chopper, Andy Allen, Steve Howard, Iain Dodson, Laurent, Hashim (MOM)(2), Mucky (1), Sylvain, Liam (3), Pablo(1), Andrew Mollat, Marcus.

To follow, the heroic exploits of the Lions in Phuket ...

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