NPL Men R1: Defeat In Carrara

OUR LIONS MEN WERE DEFEATED 3-1 BY LAST YEARS PREMIERS IN A PHYSICAL & HEATED CLASH AT THE CROATIAN SPORTS CENTRE

The opening stages were slow as we commenced the 2025 NPL campaign in Carrara. Despite a careful start from both sides, we managed to find space and create our first chance of the game in the 15th minute. Emmett Shaw cut inside from the lift, whipping a fierce cross towards the back post and into the path of Shaun Carlos’ back-post run. His header was blazed over the crossbar from close range!

Cardiff Pond made a crucial fingertip save at the far post, but overall, the first thirty minutes saw very few chances for either side. Finn Beakhurst hooked a great cross into the path of Andy Pengelly, but he couldn’t keep his header down.

With less than ten minutes until half-time, Gold Coast Knights struck first through Tyson Martin, and we entered the interval chasing a goal.

The second half started with far more fire and intensity. Yellow cards were brandished as both sides put their bodies on the line in search of the next goal.

After a frantic scramble for possession in the box, we finally forced the ball over the line on the hour mark. Hassan Ramazani nodded a miss-timed clearance across the box, and Tommy Jarrard unleashed a fierce volley at the back post!

60′ | 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋𝐋!!!

Tommy Jarrard volleys home the equaliser after a hectic battle in the box to win possession after the corner 🔥

𝐆𝐂𝐊 1 – 1 𝐋𝐈𝐎 #HeartPridePassion | #NPLQLD

— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) February 21, 2025

We charged on with momentum on our side, but it was short-lived as the hosts quickly recovered their lead. Cardiff Pond made an excellent one-v-one save against Marquez Walters, but the deflection met Tyson Cobb at the back post, and he fired the hosts ahead.

Five minutes later, we had a mountain to climb. Max Brown buried a beautiful freekick into the top left corner from thirty yards, and the clock continued to tick.

Desperate crosses were swung into the box as we tried to find bodies inside the box. Luke Broderick and Finn Beakhurst looked for gaps to sprint into the box, but the Knights remained resolute as they cleared the danger and looked to waste time.

Marquez Walters was shown a second yellow card, but even with ten men, they were able to defend in numbers. We fought with intensity until the final whistle, but we ultimately start our NPL campaign with a frustrating result.