Cowboys Tranquilise Lion (non-Veterinary related)

The Cowboys Downs A’s recorded their biggest win of the season with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Lion.

Skipper Steve Williams decided to make the match slightly more competitive, by making the Cowboys play into the sun in the first half. A tactical move as dazzling as the sun itself, which bore down on every Cowboys attack.

Easton came out of the blocks sharply and enjoyed the better of the posession and chances from the first whistle, and Ian Riddle put them ahead early on, capitalising on some woeful defending from a corner to poke the ball home from all of 3 yards.

The Cowboys pressured but were kept at bay for some time to follow, but Max headed home superbly at the near post from film-guru come tough-tackling midfielder Dave Owen’s pinpoint cross to make it 2-0 at the break.

Refreshed, and playing for ‘pride’ (see what I did there?), Lion came out strongly in the second half, and pulled a goal back, despite the offside flag being waved furiously by Olly Black on the far side of the pitch. The referee decided to over-rule his well positioned assistant though, to allow the visitors back into the game.

Their challenge was to be short-lived though, as fitness, work-rate and a bit of quality made the difference for the Cowboys, and Ian restored their 2 goal lead with a finish from close range.

Max scored a superb fourth, his second of the game, from long-range, before Ian concluded the scoring with a good finish to nail his hat-trick.

An excellent performance all-round – the back 4 will have more taxing days at the office, but were well-organised, and coped admirably with the oppositions ‘sorties’ into Easton territory – Kev Davis put in an excellent shift for the full 90, Ali Dale and Steve took control and dealt with everything thrown at them, and Will Sanzo impressed in the first half at left-back, clearly aware of the salivating Paul Murray watching on from the sidelines.

In the middle, the guys linked up well and interchanged between positions expertly to keep Lion guessing, and with five goals between them Ian and Max were (somewhat evidently) a constant goal threat going forward.

There were no fouls, or incidents of flared tempers, worthy of note in the game. Not one. Honest.