DESPITE A VALIANT EFFORT AGAINST EASTERN SUBURBS, OUR LIONS MEN END THE REGULAR CAMPAIGN WITH A 1-0 DEFEAT AT HOME
With a potential NPL Premiership out of our hands, our Lions Men entered their final day clash against Eastern Suburbs in need of a victory, and a Moreton City Excelsior defeat to crown us Premiers.
It was always going to be a battle, with Eastern Suburbs requiring a victory to secure a top-four finish and a place in the Finals Series. The game started with exactly the intensity you would expect.
Tommy Jarrard was called on to make an important early block as the visitors looked to threaten, and the woodwork saved our skin as a wide-angled shot came across Matt Acton’s goal and struck the far post.
Oskar Dillon and Luke Broderick both forced strong saves from the opponent, and Matt Acton made a ridiculous save at point-blank range to prevent a powerful first-time strike from breaking the deadlock!
Both Oskar Dillon and James Enticknap were forced off injured in the first half after giving everything for the badge in a physical opening thirty minutes. With nothing to separate us, we entered the break pinned goalless.
The second half resumed with even heavier intensity, and Luke Broderick speared a header over the crossbar after a swift team move. We continued to push for the breakthrough, attacking wide effectively, but struggling to create chances in the centre of the box. With the game approaching a tense conclusion, Eastern Suburbs broke the tension with a brutal strike, lashed into the bottom right corner with precision.
We fought for a response, but Eastern Suburbs continued to pile on the pressure as they desperately battled for a Finals Series finish. Matt Acton made another stunning one-v-one save before somehow tipping a fierce strike wide at full stretch.
Our courage and conviction could not be questioned as we battled until the final whistle, but Eastern Suburbs held on for a 1-0 victory. The result sees us finish the season as runners-up, and Moreton City Excelsior’s 2-0 victory means the Premiership was decided without our intervention.
Congratulations to Darren Sime and the boys on an excellent regular campaign, and we’re looking forward to seeing them in the Kappa Pro Series Final and the NPL Finals Series.
Congratulations to Moreton City Excelsior, who pushed us all the way in a thrilling 2025 NPL title race, and justly lift their first NPL Premiership 🏆
— Lions F.C. (@lionsfc1) August 23, 2025
Our U23s Men secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Olympic FC in our final game of the regular season. Tuquiri Beckett made no mistake from the penalty spot late in the first half to give us the advantage, and Fred Oyet struck at the back post late in the second half to cement a crucial result. The result sees us hold our position in third place, but with several opponents awaiting games in hand, our fate hinges on the results of Moreton City Excelsior and Gold Coast Knights.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Men: Round 22
Lions FC 0 – 1 Eastern Suburbs
Luxury Paints Stadium
