A commanding season opener at Briggs Road Sporting Complex, and our Lions Men battled out a well-fought 2-1 victory.
Our Kappa Pro Series opener pitted us against Ipswich FC and our good friend James Baty, in a rematch of our preseason clash in December.
Dan Barber standing at the helm for the first time, with Nathan Shepherd and Jake Bulla Minett in support.
Jacson Riley made his return debut, with Harvey Pope and Rahmat Akbari also making their first official appearances with the club. Blair Ponting, Sander Griggs, and Zane North all earned a start after being promoted from our U23S.
It was one-way traffic from the first minute until almost the last. Barring the odd breakaway from the hosts, our Lions Men dictated the game with composure and patience.
The first ten minutes begged for a goal. Shaun Carlos saw a sharp cutback blocked after a great run off the shoulder, and a flurry of chances following a corner ended with an audacious half-volley sailing over the crossbar.
Alex Fiechtner guided a curling effort marginally wide, and minutes later blasted an off-balance first-time strike into the palms of the keeper after a neat through-ball from Mitch Hore!
In their first attack of the game, Ipswich surged forward in transition, and we one-touch from creating a one-v-one inside the box before a superb sliding challenge from Zane North scooped the ball away and reinstated possession.
Ten minutes until the break, and the first goal fell at last. Mitch Hore, turning on the spot, latched on to a loose ball and rifled a fierce effort into the top left corner!
34′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Mitch Hore rifles a loose ball into the top left corner with precision 🔥
𝐈𝐅𝐂 0 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) January 23, 2026
It should have been 2-0 minutes later. Alex Fiechtner surged forward at speed, squaring a pass to Mitch Hore inside the box, but a reactive save smothered the chance before Mitch could strike the ball cleanly.
And, immediately in response, Ipswich FC burst down the right and scored. Jacson Riley rushed off his line to make a vital one-v-one save, but the strike deflected back into the path of the hosts, who finished into an empty net.
Despite an entertaining first half, we entered the break on equal terms.
A promising first half. Plenty of opportunities, but Mitch Hore’s sharp opener is cancelled out by a late Ipswich FC equaliser.
Level, with forty-five to find a winner.#HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/zPcIv3ejST
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) January 23, 2026
During the break, Finn Beakhurst was brought into the game. And Alex Irwin came on for his debut.
The rhythm remained the same. Patient, persistent, and focused in our pursuit of the breakthrough. Alex Fiechtner saw an early chance soar over the crossbar, and we continued to put the ball in the danger zone as the game progressed.
Before the hour mark, Finn Beakhurst provided the breakthrough at last. A glorious looping header, clipped over the keeper and into the top left corner, after rising in the centre to meet an inswinging cross. A beautiful goal to win our first game of 2026.
57′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!
Finn Beakhurt breaks the deadlock with a crisp header, arced over the keeper and into the upper left corner 🏹
𝐈𝐅𝐂 1 – 2 𝐋𝐈𝐎#HeartPridePassion | #KappaProSeries
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) January 23, 2026
We maintained control over the match as Ipswich FC came out of their shell in search of an equaliser. Any threat was dealt with comfortably. We continued to push for a security goal.
It was fantastic to see Jasper Sime enter the field late in the game to make his debut. Luke Broderick and Fred Oyet also earned their first minutes of the season.
And without any problems, our Lions Men held on to a 2-1 victory to commence our 2026 campaign.
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 | Finn Beakhurst’s brilliant header provides the difference in a dominant, but intensely fought season opener at Briggs Road 🦁#HeartPridePassion pic.twitter.com/0JbNfTsYcW
— Lions FC (@lionsfc1) January 23, 2026
Head Coach Dan Barber shared his thoughts on the team’s performance after the game, praising his side’s mentality and persistence.
“Really tough game, I think Ipswich had made it difficult for us and were well-organised and set up, but I’m really pleased with the players’ efforts, first of all,” Barber said. “I thought we dominated for long periods, especially in the first half, but needed to be a little bit more clinical to finish them off.
They got back into the game, which was then a test for our boys to come out, and they showed the mentality to be able to score again and to see the game out, so I’m really pleased with the first game and the first win as well in the group stage.
We’ve been training for the best part of eight weeks now, and a couple of the debuts we’re really excited and pleased about. There’s a couple of players missing as well from that, but so far they’ve gelled really well. The culture and the character amongst the squad is excellent at the minute, and if you’re winning games, that makes life a little bit easier as well, so really pleased with them.”
MATCH DETAILS:
Kappa Pro Series: Round 1
Ipswich FC 1 – 2 Lions FC
Goalscorers:
Mitch Hore 34′
Finn Beakhurst 57′
