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London simba yesterday took their mind off the league to take part in a mouth watering cup game against Met Division Two leaders Holmesdale FC with only one defeat to this season. It was a potential banana skin for simba given their recent on off form that has seen them drop further down in the league mainly due Brixton United dropping out the league and having 3 points taken off their total for the season because of the victory they recorded against them. Having all that to cope with and also a transfer of the club’s recent top scorer Mathias Ndawula to archrivals London cranes, simba knew they couldn’t let any of the off the field matters get to their heads.
The game started as a typical cup game with both teams not wanting to give anything away and no real chances were created in the first few minutes. Simba then begun to find their feet as time went on in the first half and created a few chances but nothing too much to cause threat to the Holmesdale keeper. It was wasn’t all one side though because the opposition had a few chances to take the lead too after a few momentary laps in the simba defence but they failed to make them count and the first half ended level at 0-0. The second half then kicked off with simba determined to kill the cup tie off and within minutes a nicely crafted move was finished off by Patrick Gwayambade. |
This seemed wake up Holmesdale who went on have a few chance to get back into the game but failed to take them and with just 5 minutes left in the tie their persistence paid off the a goal to take the game into extra time. All through the extra time period both teams created little in front of goal and the way the game was going it looked like it would be decide on penalties. And indeed after 120 minutes of football and some very tired legs on the pitch the cup tie was set to be decide on penalties. Simba put away all but one of their penalties while Holmesdale had two of their’s saved by simba keeper Richard Serwarda.
After the game the simba manager said “I glad my players made it through to the next round of the BBMT cup and after playing 120 minutes of football on a very heavy pitch they will need a few days rest. In a month that has seen a lot happen to London Simba, having points taken off us because a team we beat dropped out the league and also losing Mathias to London Cranes, he is not the first player we have lost to Cranes but one player doesn’t make a team but we wish him well and as we saw today the boys did well and the win has lifted everyone associated with the club. Holmesdale gave a good account of themselves today and I am sure in the next few seasons they will be playing further up in the league.” |
Simba boys warming up
Simba half time teamtalk