The Young Lions men’s side recorded their first win of the season recently after a 5-1 demolition of league leaders Abercrombie FC on a miserable afternoon in Bathurst.
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After being slow off the mark in their first four games, coach Mark Mellish instilled into them the need to start early and control the ball in wet conditions.
From the outset the Lions dominated the ball and were rewarded with a penalty after five minutes, after a lovely through-ball from Connor McGregor found Blake Wilder and he was brought down by his defender just inside the box.
Wilder coolly slotted home the spot kick to put the Lions up 1-0.
The next 25 minutes were all Young, with the Abercrombie goal being peppered by the Young attack.
This constant pressure was rewarded in the 35th minute when Tyler Allen beat his defender on the right, cutting the ball back to Nathan Hislop. Hislop with his back to goal laid the ball to Pete Mulquiney who was able to place a lovely first time shot into the far post.
After going ahead by two goals Young seemed to allow Abercrombie back into the game and midway through the second half the home side clawed one back after a poor clearance from the Lions.
Rather than let Abercrombie get on top, however, Young hit back immediately when a Brant Taylor free kick was flicked on by Allen into the far corner.
Allen then got his second and Young’s fourth when he beat the keeper to the ball on the edge of the box, playing it over the advancing Abercrombie keeper and giving himself the easiest of tap-ins.
Duncan Cameron rounded out the scoring with 10 minutes to go after beating his defender and rifling a left-foot shot into the back of the net.
Full-time score, Abercrombie FC 1, Young Lions 5.
Best for Young was Tyler Allen in a Man of the Match performance, while Blake Wilder also played well in his first game back on loan during Uni Holidays.
Frazer Burns and Chris Kerr were outstanding in defence after repelling virtually every raid that Abercrombie sent forward.
Coach Mellish was understandably quite happy with the result.
“All season I have told the guys that we are close to putting in the performance I know we are capable of and that happened against Abercrombie” Mellish said.
“Abercrombie are a good side but basically we just showed up and blew them off the pitch from the opening whistle.
“Seriously we could have been up four or five goals by half time but our finishing was a bit lacking.
“To play that type of passing and combination game (that is usually reserved for a dry pitch) in the pouring rain was really a testament to how the guys have worked at training.
“We just need to consolidate this effort and show the rest of the competition that we are the real deal.”
This weekend the Lions travel to Cowra to take on their unbeaten arch rivals on Sunday at 1pm.
In their first match this season Cowra won their first game in Young in five years with a 2-0 result, although injuries to two of the Lions’ players derailed any game plans they had.
Squad for the game is as follows:
1. Pete Mulquiney
2. Jordan Callaghan
3. Chris Kerr
4. Jarod Schiller
5. Aaron Reilly
6. Brett Humphreys
7. Duncan Cameron
8. Brant Taylor ©
9. Tyler Allen
10. Connor McGregor
11. Nathan Hislop
12. Blake Wilder
13. Andrew Carberry
14. Jordan Osmond
15. James Broughton
16. Frazer Burns
17. James Bevin
18. Jayden Lorkovic
19. Ahmad Hamden
20. Myles Pressley
(five to be omitted)
The Young Lions women’s team play Macquarie in Bathurst at 1pm on Sunday after a bye for the long weekend.
It will be a tough encounter for the ladies with Macquarie sitting in a strong second place on the ladder and Young will be weakened with a number of key players unavailable.
The women have been progressing gradually up the table and will look to protect the advancements they have made in recent weeks.
Young will go with their attacking mindset and look to take the game to Macquarie.
Young’s side for Sunday is as follows:
1. Amy Braham
2. Pat Dawe ©
3. Maddison O’Hara
4. Samantha Edwards
5. Ebony Cant
6. Lizzie Butt
7. Rachel Braham
8. Cassandra Edwards
9. Jemma Long
10. Attaya Peters
11. Lucy Williams
12. April Caldow
13. Hannah Corcoran
14. Tammi Brewer
We would like to thank the Young Services Club for their ongoing support as major sponsor of Young Lions Soccer Club, as well as thanking our other sponsors for their assistance - South West Slopes Credit Union, Eagle Boys, Richard Mellish Insurance Services, Windridge Farms, YES Embroidery, Sutherlands Welding and Fabrication, Back to Back Financial Planners, Mill Tavern, Kay McDonald Trophies and Colonial Motel.