Under 11 Lions suffer defeat in Hampshire Cup

This was a huge disappointed for the Lions, suffering a 5-0 defeat in the hands of this North East Hants League outfit. Not just because of the scoreline, but because the Lions did not perform on the day. Rushmoor were very good, make no mistake about that. The Tigers were mobile, direct, physical, and punishing anywhere near goal. Nevertheless, the Lions have boys with the ability and skills to have matched them man-for-man when it came to football and it was the determination and marking that was lacking. True, the Tigers played a big part in that, by-passing the midfield, moving the ball quickly and cutting through the Lions defence time after time. It is some measure of credit to the Lions that a dogged defence managed to keep the scoreline at a respectable level. However, apart from a period in the second half, the Lions threats on the Tigers goal were largely non-existent. And this is a team who have scored 40 goals in eight matches prior to this fixture, and often against decent opposition. Hopefully the boys will take some positives from this cup-tie and remember that when you meet teams as good as the Tigers you have to go toe-to-toe with them and fight for every ball if you are going to compete and make it an equal match. The boys can do that, but they have to do it consistently - especially against good opposition.

In a twist of fate that only cups can produce, the Tigers will now play Whiteley Wanders Lions in the quarter-finals of the Hampshire FA U11 Cup at Aldershot, the current leaders of the Mid Hants U11 Division A. Having beaten the second placed Lions in the same division it should be some match because the previous Saturday the Lions held Whiteley to a thrilling 2-2 draw!