Sunday League 11th January 2004 HASSG Lions and Qandil 4 Orion FC 2 Oak Road Ground by Mo

I woke abruptly 4:30 am on Sunday morning in a sweat. I sat up and slowly realised the possibility of destroying my budding journalist/photographer career. I'd forgotten to put my 6 AA batteries on charge and somehow that little fact had blown up into a devilish nightmare.

My mate Greg was staying over, planning to come along to the game. He woke up too, thinking it was time to go. The morning arrived with sunshine and the promise of a great day ahead although we left to meet the lads in Pearson Park wrapped up and ready for the worst. Orion FC are top of the League and unbeaten this season, a formidable opponent for the HASSG Lions but the squad's mood was jovial as we hopped in our motors and car-trained our way to the home ground.

Eleven o'clock came and went with no sign of Orion FC. I was passed a mobile phone explaining they were at a different pitch and would be along in five minutes. Better late than never, the game kicked off hurriedly at a quarter past the hour.

The Lions putting six goals past Malt Shovel last week has not gone unnoticed as the Orion team take up a 4-5-1 defensive formation at the start. The midfield is crowded and the Lions do well to push into attack with through balls from the captain Ako (15) to Azad ( 9) forcing Orion immediately onto the back foot.

This is the strongest start to a game I have seen from the HASSG Lions to date. With increasing confidence the Lions string together passes and maintain possession despite a strong challenge from the league leaders fighting for every loose ball.

The referee immediately gets on top of the game and signals a foul against Orion FC. This is the most impressive start I have seen from the Lions, they reach a rhythm immediately and get rewarded by an opening goal from Hogar (11) straight from a free kick outside the box.

Bend it like Hogar, straight over the Orion wall and into the right corner. Classic. Brilliant. This boy is definitely classy even though two operations on his knee has removed a greater part of his confidence, shying from any heavy tackles that are coming in from Orion.

Their keeper, player/manager makes a terrific save from a deflected shot on goal by Karwan (10) stretching him to the limit. Hogar (11) crosses into a crowded box with Ako (16) finding a gap and slotting home the Lions' second goal in the first half hour of the game. This team really is something special.

Orion FC are a spirited team and fight hard to get back into the game by pumping balls forward to 'Micky'; a tall, blond goal hanger who unwittingly downs Quasim (2) in the Lions central defence (check video clip 1).

Again calls and complaints from the HASSG Lions are dealt with immediately by the Referee, Shaun Liebman. He takes no nonsense and is well prepared to subdue any untoward behaviour with a warning to both team captains.

With only Micky (9) up front, the Orion attack falters from lack of support. Losing control of the midfield is their biggest mistake.

continued below

Sunday League 11th January 2004 HASSG Lions and Qandil 4 Orion FC 2 continued Oak Road Ground by Mo

Never-the-less Orion do get a goal back before the end of the first half to make the game 2 to 1 Lions at the break. Full of confidence, the Lions begin the second half as they did the first; dominating the game. It's attack all the way, led down the left wing by more beautiful interplay. Hogar (11) alongside Ako (16) linking well with Karwan (10) and Azad (9).

Karwan (10) scores to take the Lions 3-1 ahead and leaves Orion team looking dejected and disheartened. 'Keep your heads up lads!' comes a shout from their sideline. The Lions supporters had grown to maybe 30 people who were doing their best to cheer on their underdog side toward victory.

The league leaders returned with attacks showing their grit and determination to compete right until the end. It paid off with a second goal slipped past Kamaran, the Lions keeper, to return Orion FC to within one goal deficit at 3-2. Things were hotting up and both teams over-reacted to the tense situation with only twenty minutes left to play. This culminated in Referee Shaun Liebman handing out the red card for the Orion FC striker (9) who took off his shirt and walked.

This is the most impressive refereeing I've seen, with a calmness and control, the Referee ignores his critics from both sides and executes his decision.

It was probably my tenth switch of ends when Billal said to me 'Now go to their goal, we will score now!' So I flew upfield in time to see Azad (9) slam the ball against the Orion left post to rebound out to a walloping back against the right post by Karwan (10).

Ako (16) the captain, subsequently scores his second putting the game out of reach for Orion FC who fought bravely with their remaining 10 men until the final whistle. It was a great victory for the underdog HASSG Loins and to my great surprise we were all invited to lunch at the Kurdish restaurant on Spring Bank by an incredibly generous spectator, Mr Azad Anahn of the local Hull Kurdish community. This job only gets better!

Match Video download.	Dialup 38 Kbps	ISDN 48Kbps	Broadband 150Kbs	Broadband 340Kbs
download (59 sec)	310Kb	385Kb	1,145Kb	2,597Kb
Lions Goal (2/0) (14 sec)	219Kb	270Kb	274Kb	658Kb
Lions Goal (3/1) (41 sec)	219Kb	270Kb	793Kb	1,821Kb
Orion Goal (3/2) (16 sec)	114Kb	140Kb	405Kb	994Kb
Lions Play (31 sec)	169Kb	209Kb	610Kb	1,403Kb
More Play (31 sec)	170Kb	208Kb	611Kb	1,369Kb

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