13/09/2026
The Lions travelled to familiar opposition today in FC Hartlepool. It was a positive start for the lads with Jude pushing on to make the early break. The lads set up well and kept tight lines meaning they dealt with every forward movement Hartlepool made. After a lapse in concentration Hartlepool broke and found their way through. A speculative effort went in and made the Lions have to regroup with a 1-0 deficit.
The Lions pushed on and created chances through both Jude and Alfie despite being up against it. Frustration set in as chances came and went. Long balls became the tactic and Hartlepool soon cottoned on. The first half ended 1-0 down with a tense second half to go yet.
The second half continued in the same vein with poor decision making allowing Hartlepool to look the more likely to score. And score they did with another speculative effort that caught the Lions on the back foot. At 2-0 the game looked cut and dry but the lads pushed on; as is their spirit. In true Lions style they clawed their way back in to it with a clinical effort from Jude to make it 2-1. With the bit between their teeth they fought to break even. Breaks on both wings saw Hartlepool on the back foot allowing Bobby to play Archie in who took his time and smashed the Lions back in to it at 2-2.
Not content with a draw, they fought and fought to kill the game off. An eager Chizzy quickly played Archie in from a long throw who measured the ball beautifully for the Lions to finally take the lead. Not content they quickly reset for Alfie to bag another and push the lead to 4. Hartlepool still pushed on and managed to nick another one back to make for a tense final 5 minutes. And the tension only increased more after a mistake at the back allowed Hartlepool to breeze another home and even things out at the final score of 4-4.
An absolute roller coaster of a game today that could have ended either way. Today’s match was another reminder of the grit and determination that the Lions possess. When a game feels out of reach as a spectator the Lions fight and claw to take something from it. This was evident in today’s player of the match, Archie, who fought tooth and nail for his teammates to get something from the game. A hard fought point with lots of lessons learnt! Well done Lions!
