MATCH DAY REPORT

Manager: Sam Elliott

Team Sheet:
Mark Butler

Guilherme 
David Baynham
Ricky Mensah
Shaun Canty

Marcus Correia 
Mark Clarke
Chris Huntley
Will Price

James Feast
Scott Boulden

Subs
Antony Wright
Adam Crosby
Sam Elliott

Subs not used
Jan Soldan
Sam Elliott

Falcons Goalscorers
Correia’10
Boulden’88

Falcons Man of the Match
Mark Butler

LONDON FALCONS 'A' 2
RED LION 0

Falcons cage Lions to rightfully reclaim their second spot!

A week of controversy was put to one side as the pressure was placed right back on leaders Hampton Village.

The unbeaten run remains after goals from Marcus Correia and Scott Boulden kept the heat on at the top to end 2009 in fine fashion.

A fourth win in five games was secured despite profligacy from both the goal machines – and Falcons were indebted to keeper Mark Butler’s great first-half penalty save with the match evenly poised.

Manager Sam Elliott said: “We were going to either sink or swim today. What went on with our points last week has been on everyone’s minds and we need a reaction. We got one.

“We feel hard done by but we had to win to get the spirit back up. It would have been a long Christmas break with us stuck in midtable, that’s for certain!
“But we’re not, we’re up to second again after a solid, gritty performance. We weren’t great in front of goal but we got there in the end. It’s been a brilliant year for the team…roll on 2010!”

Falcons went ahead on ten minutes, Correia profiting from a Lions slip after debutant Will Price’s ball into the danger-zone.

The hosts’ task was seemingly made easier midway through the first half. Barry Davies’ wild attack on Mark Clarke was spotted by the referee and the fiery midfielder was correctly given his marching orders.

Brazilian Guilherme almost made it 2-0 after a slick inter-change between the right-back and James Feast. His shot hit the base of the post and came out.
But the sending off then seemed to galvanise the visitors and they were awarded a penalty as Price was adjudged to have upended Joe Clarke in the box.

Hero Butler saved the day but the second half was one-way traffic.
Boulden and Correia both missed a hatful of chances and new boy Price came close from long-range.

The points were in the bag though three minutes from time as top scorer Boulden made it 13 league goals from close range with his customary strike.