The Southgate o35 Mens team known as “The Lions” roared their way into a berth at the tier 1 national final on Sunday afternoon after coming back from being 3-1 and then 4-2 down in the final quarter of fiercely competitive semi-final in Solihull.
The Lions came to the game fresh from a nerve shredding denouement to their quarter final which went down to a shoot-out in Canterbury at the start of the month yet last minute injuries meant the side travelled with a depleted pride of 14 lions to the bucolic Hampton-in-Arden club just south of Birmingham.
Doug Ward, Kabir Bowry and keeper Rob Goodhew came back into the side for the Semi final played in gorgeous sunny skies with strong Southgate support in show from the Fell dynasty who made the journey to cheer on the team and absolutely not to fetch water for a certain defender.
The game started well for Southgate who after the early parries won a PC courtesy of deft hands from Andrew Westbrook which was clinically converted past the Hampton keeper to take the early lead. Yet Hampton immediately responded with 3 goals which followed with deft touches punishing a string of Southgate errors as the Lions struggled to shake off the journey, the heat of the day and some stiff legs from the Saturday games. Magic Lion MacLean in his 47th game of the year and 3rd of the weekend nevertheless threw himself about with as much agility as his legs could muster. Hampton showed some real class in their forwards and midfield linking play and pulling out the Southgate players from their positions as they found space and forced errors. Two corners followed for Hampton to take the game into a 3 goal lead at the break, yet Rob Goodhew parried the first sending it high over the post for a re-award before Huw Stevens successfully ran down the second strike before calmly dribbling it out whilst in discussion with the umpire.
The half time saw a certain Lion talking to himself alone in an empty goal and a certain fracas with an intimate dugout frame but also some strong words from the skipper which produced the necessary response when Kabir Bowry leapt on a ball that fell loose in the D within 90 seconds of the start of the second half. Southgate turned from prey to hunter for the following minutes with Keeper Rob Goodhew shortly against the run of the play pulling off an outstanding diving save from a Hampton drag flick. Yet tables turned again when the home side knocked another goal in as Alastair Whatley ran the entire length of the pitch on a Hampton counter only to find himself deftly deflecting the ball into the back of the Southgate goal- a finish for which he was roundly praised post game- yet the scoreboard read 4-2 and the Lions backs were hard up against a very green wall. The defensive unit became stronger as the game went on with Scott Ellis, Andy Fell, Andy Robertson and Magic Lion all putting in some crunching tackles to neuter further Hampton advances.
Huw Stevens moved himself further up the prairie in a bid to lend a new dynamic to proceedings and this had the desired impact with some good work linking with Mark Ellis and Iain Gordon forcing a corner was saved only for Gordon to pounce like a lion on the second phase and drill it home. 4-3. 15 minutes to play. Gordon proceeded to produce one of the moments of the game when shortly after, he was called up by the umpires for a poor challenge for which a PC was awarded, fearing the worst on seeing the umpire reach for his pocket of shame and doom he walked off dejectedly for a sit down but was keen to learn on enjoying his well earned rest what colour his offence had been deemed. The answer came back a few moments later than Gordon had not received a card of any colour and thus sufficiently refreshed he returned to the field of play.
Rob Schilling and Raj Saha began creating some space in the middle and with Stevens pressing hard with the forward unit 8 minutes later when Schilling found a D entry from the right channel and with the ease of a agile cat placed the ball squarely on the foot of the Hampton defender- Stevens stepped up again and the ball beat the keeper hit the defenders foot and rolled across the goal line- yet the umpire had blown it too soon and a flick was awarded in place of the goal. Stevens stepped up making the journey to the P spot and hawk like swotted the ball past the Hampton keeper to equalise with 6 minutes left on the clock. 4-4.
The Hampton support was vocal cheering on their home players, the Fell dynasty had lost track of the score imagining it was in fact 4-3 and feared the worst- yet somehow Doug Ward linking well with Bowry and Westbrook found the ball at his feet towards the top of the Hampton D and with a snap shot collared the ball through with a resounding thud to gladden the hearts of the Lions who roared aloud amongst the black country in the shimmering afternoon sunshine. 5-4. 3 minutes to play.
Hampton pushed back and won another corner as Southgate stomachs tightened and Hampton hearts flickered with new found hope as a saved ball on the line was sent out, the ball sat proudly on the green baize which a Hampton forward lept on with alacrity of purpose only to miss a huge opportunity as the ball remained unmoved. Thursday final 60 seconds was poor for the pacemakers as heart rates leapt about in general abandon before at long last the final whistle blew and the lions rejoiced the Fell dynasty were however surprised by the reaction as thought the game was still 4-4 and going to a shoot-out. Hence no cheers from the supporting Southgate ranks could be heard as hands were shaken and manes patted and then beers drunk on a long and happy journey back to London- the Lions are on their way to their final reckoning.
MVL (most valuable lion): Iain Gordon and Rob Goodhew
Southgate Lions vs Ben Rhydding
035 Mens Tier One National Final
Saturday 3rd May
