Bouncebackability! DLFC 3- NLT 2

Dutch Lions FC 3 – 2 North London Tara
Report By Peter Clark (Resident Right Back for the Lions)

The Lions showed their increasing mental strength and fitness levels to come from two goals down to defeat title-chasing North London Tara 3-2 at Northwick Park.
 
Turning round at 1-2, the Lions reshaped their formation to score twice, and then survived a nervy last 10 minutes to keep all three points. After the disappointments of a cup exit on penalties two weeks ago, then a narrow league defeat last week, this win was richly deserved.

The match was a personal triumph for player-manager Don O’Keeffe, who took over in goal after regular keeper Arron called off. With a couple of crucial saves in the last ten, he helped ensure victory for the Lions.

The Lions starting formation was altered slightly this week, with Timid moving to the point of a four-man diamond formation in midfield, supporting Jabba and Yasser up front. However, it was Tara that made all the running early on, as the Lions conceded midfield, and allowed the Tara opposition to dominate. It was little surprise when Tara went one up, a low shot from the edge of the box finding its way through a forest of legs and squirming past the unsighted O’Keeffe. It didn’t take long for Tara to double their lead, when a weak goal kick was returned with interest, expertly dispatched from 35 yards.

Instead of heads going down, the Lions redoubled their efforts, and started to dominate. The Tara defence were put under more pressure, and several hasty clearances signified the changing mood of the match. Justice was done just before half time. Noel flighted a searching pass from left back, which found the Tara centre half wanting. Jabba was onto the ball in a flash, and gave the keeper no chance with a confident strike from 16 yards. The half time whistle went soon after, and the Lions had clearly seized a key psychological advantage.

The Lions reshaped for the second half, moving to a 4-3-3 with Paolo coming on to spearhead the attack. The Tara defence was soon under pressure again, as the Lions set about finding an equaliser. Clark was finding plenty of space down the right, and when given time and space to cross again, sent a laser-guided raker to the far post. Jabba, timing his run to perfection, headed powerfully back across the keeper, and the Lions were back on level terms.

The game was clearly there for the taking now. Tara, with heads starting to go down, were looking increasingly vulnerable at the back. The Lions went for the jugular, and duly drew blood – although the blood-letting coming from perhaps an unlikely source.

A corner from the right was flicked on by Timid. With Grant causing confusion amongst the Tara defence, the ball was cleared weakly to Clark on the edge of the box. Without breaking stride, the buccaneering right back connected perfectly with a left-footed half-volley from 18 yards. The roof of the net bulged, and the Lions were ahead thanks to Clark’s first goal in open play for 23 years.*

Tara threw everything at the Lions for the remainder of the match, with numerous goal mouth scrambles and dangerous crosses coming to nothing in the end. In fact, the nearest to another goal came at the opposite end, when a mazy run and cut back from Timid gave Paolo a sight of goal. His shot appeared to hit the inside of the side netting and come out again, with the reaction of all the players from both sides near the goal telling its own story. However, the referee disallowed the goal and waved play on.

 

In the end, a morale-booting victory was ground out. The Lions never gave up, got their shape back after a ropey start, and fashioned three quality goals to take full points. With 4 matches left, if we’re looking at targets, it’s got to be 12 points, just to emphasise the massive strides this new team, group of players and the management have made since the start of the season.

Good luck to Tara in their cup final. Hope you win, lads.

(* A tap in from a yard in an Angus Amateurs Division 2 match, Dawson Park, Dundee, April 1984 if you’re interested . . . )