Lions Clear First Hurdle To Reach RD5

Lions FC         5 (Daley 12′, 26′; Glockner 15′; Cosgrove 55′, Hore 90+1′)
Caboolture    1 (Sheumack 5′)
HT 3-1

Last season’s early FFA Cup exit was well and truly put to bed as Lions progressed through to RD5 of the cup following a convincing but hard earned victory over a gutsy Viva Capital League 1 Caboolture side.

Things didn’t start well for the hosts with the Snakes taking an early lead through Mitch Sheumack’s glancing header from a corner that floated in at the far post with Luke Borean beaten.

Echoes of last season’s upset to Brisbane Knights were suddenly ringing around Lions Stadium until the 12th minute when Carter Glockner slipped the ball to Jesse Daley at the edge of the box and the mercurial midfielder clinically dispatched the equaliser to ease the nerves of the Lions coaching staff.

Moments later, Jean Carlos Solorazno forced Caboolture stopper Jacob Boyle into a superb save with a goal bound header from Daley’s cross, but a minute after Boyle could do nothing as the hosts took the lead. Daley again delivering a pin point ball for Glockner who fired into the bottom corner.

Coach Warren Moon was forced into an early change just after the quarter hour mark when Solorzano felt a hamstring tighten. Liam Cosgrove replacing the striker as Moon was forced to reshuffle.

Caboolture’s Jamie Hilliar was providing the visitors with some electric pace and neat foot work, with the Lions defence having to be on their guard as the visitors went in search of an equaliser of their own.

On the half hour though, Lions extended their lead. Glockner broke the offside trap and was one on one with Boyle. Unselfishly he slid the ball across to Daley who calmly slotted the ball home.

Lions almost made if four on the stroke of half time when Caboolture failed to clear a corner and Cosgrove’s knock down had to be saved on the line by Boyle with Glockner lurking close by.

 

 

The hosts were given an opportunity early in the second half to put the game beyond doubt when Mitch Hore’s run into the box was put to an end with a mistimed challenge to give Lions a penalty. Daley, looking for a hat trick to put the icing on the cake before he heads overseas next week, stepped up for the spot kick but Boyle managed to get a foot to it and deny him.Moments later and Lions all but finished the tie off as a contest. A free kick just outside the box was played over the top for Nathan Reardon who, combined with a defender, saw his header drop kindly for Cosgrove in the middle of the box who drove the ball into the bottom left corner to give his side a three goal buffer.

A couple more chances came and went for the hosts before Caboolture nearly made a reply following a free kick from just outside the box that Borean scrambled across his goal to tip away.

With time running out Lions were awarded another penalty following Zac Born’s handball, although there seemed little intent with the Snakes defender pleading his case with the referee.

Daley stepped up for a second attempt from the spot and was again thwarted by Boyle who stood his ground as Daley’s effort was directed at the Caboolture custodian who cleared away.

The first minute of added time did see hosts put a shine on the result when Daley’s clever far post floated cross was met by Hore to head home.

It perhaps wasn’t Lions at their best but the hoodoo of last season was lifted as Warren Moons are the first side to head into the hat for the RD5 draw.

 

Moony’s Remarks:
“It was important for us to win that one. The performance wasn’t bad but at times a bit laboured, although the conditions didn’t help with the rain that fell during the game.”

“I’m just happy to win it and now our name is in the hat for the next round.”

 

Team line-ups:

Lions FC:
Borean (gk), Thompson, Jarrard, Reardon, Hore, Solorzano, Daley, Kim, Brindell-South, Maher, Glockner.
Subs: Cuminao (rgk), Webster, Cosgrove, Stewart, Carlos.

Caboolture:
Boyle (gk), Brownlie, Cornwill-Harris, Sheumack, Born, Worthington, Hayes, Fairgrieve, Hilliar, Bargh, Scott.
Subs: Taylor (rgk), Emes, Taylor, Dench, Wilson.