Lions Back As Title Contenders

Lions FC 3 (Jomanday 33', Butters 39', 53')

Albany Creek 1 (Arop 74') HT 2-0 Played at: Lions Stadium

Lions FC rounded off a memorable week that saw them announced as one of the clubs entering into the expanded PlayStation4 NPL for 2018, with an entertaining 3-1 win over Albany Creek at Lions Stadium on Saturday night. Sekou Jomanday's solo effort opened the scoring shortly after the half hour with one of his trademark powerful runs; brushing off three defenders before slipping the ball inside Creek keeper Behzad Ariayee Ravesh's near post. Six minutes later Lions doubled their lead. Jomanday again involved as his elaborate overhead lob from the goal line into the box was headed down for Butters who turned sharply and fired past Ariayee Ravesh. The hosts further extended their lead shortly after the break with the goal of the game and it was the same combination that had borne fruit in the first half. Jomanday again making progress down the left flank before delivering a deep cross into the box that found Henry Hore. Hore heading the ball back into the middle of the penalty area where Butters met it in on the volley, smashing the ball high into the back of the net in spectacular fashion, leaving Ariayee Ravesh watching on. Substitute Peter Gaffney, on for Jomanday on the hour mark, should have put the game to bed soon after coming when he received the ball with space in the box, but he powered his effort straight to Ariayee Ravesh. Creek found a lifeline into the game with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. Chom Arop, who'd been well marshalled throughout the contest, found room in the box from substitute Chris Swain's goal line cross and fired into the top right corner. Creek pressed hard for the remainder of the game giving Lions coach Warren Moon some concern as his side were getting overrun. The visitors thought they'd pulled another one back late on when a goal mouth scramble saw the ball cleared off the line as the Creek players vehemently claimed it had crossed the line. Eventually Creek ran out of time as Lions look to have well ans truly put their slump in form behind them and are back in the title hunt again. Creek to their credit worked hard throughout and both sides played an attractive style of football on the night. Had Arop hit the target in the early stages with his diving header, the game may have taken a different course. Lions did well in quelling their opponents attacking force with Royce Brownlie kept quiet throughout and Arop allowed little room to get up momentum with his lengthy striding runs. The stats certainly indicate Lions didn't have it all their own way with Creek dominating second half possession, with just their forays into the final third letting them down. It's something Lions coach Warren Moon will want to address when they're back in league action in a fortnight's time at home to Rochedale.

Creek wont be too disappointed with their performance and if they can carry it into their RD9 catch-up game at home to Mitchelton next Friday, thy ought to get a result.

FB Media Player of the Match: Michael Butters (Lions FC).

Tricky to decide with so many performing well, including Tommy Jarrard looking comfortably assured at the back and Nathan Reardon relishing a more advanced midfield role. But with his goals that included an absolute belter, couple with his tenacity up front, Butters gets the nods.

Coaches Remarks: Warren Moon (Lions FC): "We played well and probably deserved that fourth goal. We played some great stuff in the first 25 minutes of the second half but then we made it a little hard for ourselves at 3-1 as we got a little bit nervy. But we got the result in the end so I'm pretty happy."

Pouria Nabi (Albany Creek): "Firstly I'd like to congratulate Lions on their successful application to the PlayStation4 NPL, they definitely deserve to be playing at that level. As for game, I'm actually happy that our supporters got to see a good game and that we created enough chances in the second half to get back into the game but were just a little unlucky. I have to credit my players - we were short in defence with our entire back line made up from our midfielders due to injuries and unavailability. I'm happy with how we played in the second half."

FB Media Stats:

1st Half Possession: 62% - 38%

2nd Half Possession: 35% - 65%

Overall Possession: 48% - 52%

Shots on target: 9 - 1

Shots off target: 3 - 9

Corners: 10 - 5

Free Kicks: 13 - 19

Penalties: 0 - 0

Offside: 1 - 2

Yellow Cards: 0 - 3

Red Cards: 0 - 0 Team Line-ups: