NPLW R7, NPLM R5
LIONS WOMEN DISARM OLYMPIC WHILE OUR MEN COMPLETE A COMMANDING COMEBACK AGAINST POWER
Our Lions Women demonstrated their superiority in a confident performance against Olympic FC. Our Men showed courage against an aggressive Peninsula Power side, fighting back in a physical second half to win 3-1.
LIONS VS OLYMPIC FC: NPL WOMEN
A dominant display in possession and offence saw our Lionesses claim a comprehensive victory at home.
Back in the starting line-up, Amy Gunston wasted no time at all, opening the scoring with an acrobatic finish at the back post inside the opening ten minutes. Two minutes later, the offside flag robbed her of a second.
A lapse in focus and a fine move from Olympic saw the guests draw level through Morgan Stanton. Tegan Riding made sure we were ahead at the break, driving down the left flank before beating her opponents down the byline and squaring the ball for a composed Rebecca Kirkup to pass home.
Gunston once again exemplified our fast start, doubling our lead within five minutes of the restart. Critical reactive saves from Elli Chapple ensured our lead wasn’t threatened before a maiden goal for Meghan McElligott put the game beyond reach.
LIONS VS PENINSULA POWER: NPL MEN
Pengelly punished his former side with an inspired second-half display that saw our Lions flip the game in our favour in a demanding and intense battle for three points.
Despite dominating possession in an end-to-end opening thirty minutes, we were handed an onerous burden when Josh Woolley beat Munford with an awkward header.
We responded after the break, starting fast with Ryo Ono breaking in behind dangerously before being scythed down from behind and awarded a penalty. With a red card to the guests, Pengelly braced the responsibility and nailed a pin-point penalty into the bottom left corner.
Within five minutes, Pengelly had put us ahead, controlling a low cross with his right foot before pivoting on the spot and lacing a left-footed volley into the bottom right corner. The offside flag denied him his hattrick before the visitors were handed another red card for a cynical two-footed challenge on our goalscorer.
A physical and hard-fought victory was sealed with relief in the final minutes, with Matt Ridenton picking the ball up in space, darting forward and firing a bouncing strike into the bottom right corner from a distance.
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