Moon Shines In Lions Come From Behind Win
Holland Park Hawks 1 (Briggs 27') Lions FC 2 (Kenyon 79'; Fetahagic 83') HT 1-0
Played at Whites Hill Reserve
Lions FC Coach Warren Moon, came off the bench to inspire his side to what could be a season defining come from behind win at Holland Park Hawks on Saturday evening. It will be a night long remembered in weeks to come, but so nearly never went ahead at all. A number of lights going out after the reserves game threatened to curtail proceedings on what seems to be a regular event when these two sides meet at Whites Hill Reserves. Their initial Westfield FFA Cup tie last season being postponed due to light failure. But Referee Anton Shchetinin proceeded with the game. If Lions go on to claim the Flight Centre Premier League title, it will be done the hard way with yet more player movements affecting the reigning Premiers. Josh Ahern the latest departure, returning to Peninsula Power along with fringe player Eric Matheus Spiandorello joining his Brazilian compatriot Andre Bonotto at Power. But a surprise signing was the return to Lions of Brodie Kenyon from Capital League 2 side Western Spirit. Hawks went into the game with a full strength squad, with Marek Madle starting on the bench. It was Lions who started the strongest with Kenyon in the thick of it. A fierce shot in the opening minute flashing wide of Matt Carr's goal and moments later, an appeal for a penalty when he seemed to get a push in the back whilst holding the ball up in the box, waved away by Referee Shchetinin. But it would be the hosts who would open the scoring just before the half hour mark. Dean Briggs firing a clinical low drive past Zabaks to send the home crowd into a frenzy. Hawks went close to doubling their lead minutes later when Andrew MacAskill fired agonisingly wide when well placed. Hawks going into the break with with the ascendancy which they carried over into the second half and had Manabu Ishimoto's mishit effort looped in shortly after the restart, things would have been very difficult for the visitors. As it was, Hawks held out their opponents for the majority of the second term with Lions failing to register a shot on goal until super-sub Moon entered into the fray. With just over 10 minutes left of the clock, Moon's in-swinging corner was met by Kenyon's header that beat Carr at his far post, their first effort on goal for the entire half. Lions now had the bit between their teeth. Morgan forcing Carr into a good save on 82 minutes. Carr was again called upon seconds later when having to react quickly to a flick on goal wards from a Moon free kick. But the hosts would again be undone from the resulting set piece, with Moon delivering a dangerous ball into the box that Ajdin Fetahagic seemed to get the decisive touch on and find the back of the net as the visitors turned the game on its head. Hawks were now the side searching for an equaliser and they had one last chance deep in added time. Hawks keeper Carr coming up to the Lions penalty box for a late free kick to the hosts but he was unable to help salvage a point as Lions cleared and Referee Shchetinin blew the whistle for the final time in the game to huge cheers from the Lions players. Things threatened to turn ugly straight after the final whistle with Carr confronting Lions FC's Nathan Reardon. Referee Shchetinin quickly getting in between the pair as he moved Carr away whilst team mates ushered Reardon away. With a massive game coming up next week at home to Brisbane Strikers in the Westfield FFA Cup, it was in Reardon's best interests to curb his antics. The win keeps Lions at the top of the Flight Centre Premier League ladder with a 3 point buffer over Mitchelton in second spot who had to settle for a point away to Eastern Suburbs. Defeat for Holland Park and Rochedale Rovers win at home to Capalaba means the Hawks drop out of the top four for the first time since round six as the top half of the table continues to be congested. Hawks enjoy a week off next week whilst Lions go into battle next Sunday to claim one of the two spots in the Round of 32 in the Westfield FFA Cup. FB Media Player Of The Match: #2 Michael Butters - Lions FC. It was another close call with defenders certainly featuring in our thoughts this week, but our award goes to Butters who despite being on the end of a number of heavy challenges, didn't waiver from his task which he does well when in the back line. Special mention to Warren Moon too for his late cameo which proved pivotal to their success. Team line-ups Holland Park Hawks: Carr (gk), Anderson, Boyle, Briggs, Ishimoto (Madle 67'), MacAskill (Ntamba 89'), Rasmussen, Roper, Smith, Swithenbank, Woodward. Subs: Kirala (rgk), Kallis, Madle, Cabassi, Ntamba.
Lions FC: Zabaks (gk), Butters, Fetahagic, Takahashi, Gaffney (Moon 67'), Kenyon, Reardon, Shepherd, Jankovic, Morgan, Khan (Diaz 62'). Subs: Murphy (rgk), Cosgrove, Diaz, Moon, Jomanday. FB Media Match Stats. Possession: 1st Half 47% - 53% / 2nd Half 50% - 50% Overall Possession: 49% - 51% Shots on target: 1 - 4 Shots off target: 3 - 6 Free kicks: 15 - 9 Offside: 0 - 1 Corners: 2 - 6 Yellow Cards: 0 - 2 Red Cards: 0 - 0 Referee: Anton Shchetinin
