White Lion FC Bolton

It’s final week!

📝 Friday 24/05/24
📍 Golborne sports club- WA3 2SE.
⌚️ 19:00 KO
Free admission 🙏🏻👏🏻

Hopefully see you all there to cheer the lads on!

The final date is set!
⚽️

Robin Park 2-2 White Lion (5-6 pens)

Goalkeeper Jordan Crook was the hero tonight as he made two penalty saves in a shootout to send the Lions to their first cup final!

The lads were up for the match from the off and settled into the game well, and had the better of the chances in the first half but couldn't dent the scoreline. Lions were causing problems from set pieces and a few chances went begging, and the team were defending well but the game was a stalemate at half time.

After a firm talking to at half time the team responded brilliantly and dominated from the restart and were rewarded when Aaron Hillyard finished well to make it 1-0.

Connor Dean finished from close range from a loose ball to double the Lion's lead after 60 minutes. 2-0.

Lions were still in control of the game and dealing with any attacks from the opposition well but conceded from a throw in as an attacker sneaked in at the far post. Game on, 2-1.

With 15 minutes remaining Robin Park found the equaliser from a superbly struck free kick which flew into the top corner. 2-2 and Lion's had to show character and dig in for the rest of the match.

Robin Park very nearly found the winner in the last minute but Crook made a good save to send the game to penalties.

Penalty takers:

Josh Dalley ⚽
Chris Oliver ❌
Jack Ashworth ⚽
Yonas Amare ⚽
Ben Humphries ⚽
Connor Ormes ⚽
Connor Dean ⚽

Starting line up:

Crook; Hindley, Oliver, Lomax, Ashworth; Dalley (c), Archer, Dean; Amare, Ormes, Hillyard

Subs: Akinyemi, Houghton, Humphries

Goals: Hillyard '50, Dean '60

Someone say final!!!!! ⚽️

Sevenbrooks 4-5 White Lion

YONAS AMARE sent White Lion through to the semi finals of the Laithwaite Shield semi final with the ninth goal of the game as Lion's squeezed through 5-4.

The game didn't start to plan for Lion's as they went behind early on as Sevenbrooks went through one on one and finished well past Jordan Crook.

However, the team bounced back well with a well worked goal for the equaliser from Aaron Hillyard and Archer Grey poached at the back post to put Lion's infront. Jack Ashworth put Lion's 3-1 up with a finish from a corner.

Sevenbrooks pulled a goal back with with a looping header following a free kick.

The most controversial moment of the game came shortly before half time after a late challenge from a Sevenbrooks player on Archer Grey yet the referee failed to produce a caution and White Lion defender Daniel Lomax was sin binned for 10 minutes.

After half time Sevenbrooks had the chance to equilise from the penalty spot after Lee Chadwick pulled a Sevenbrooks player in the box. Crook pulled off a great save to his left to keep the Lion's lead intact.

The score soon became 3-3 after a swift counter attack from Sevenbrooks following a Lion's corner kick. A well timed pass and finish last Crook.

Hillyard bagged his second of the game from close range as Lion's went 4-3 ahead but again Sevenbrooks dough back. A second penalty, this one a contentious one, was given away by Connor Dean and the taker slotted home well.

Amare was sent through one on one with the keeper after some great play from Jack Ashworth and finished with a well executed chip over the keeper which dropped just under the crossbar. 5-4.

Crook made two brilliant saves late on to prevent the game going to penalties.

There was still time for the referee to dismiss Dean with one minute remaining.

Starting line up:

Crook; Chadwick, Ashworth, Lomax, Fairhurst; Grey, Dalley (c), Amare; Ormes, Dean, Hillyard

Subs: Houghton, Whenlock, Akinyemi

Goals: Hillyard 2, Grey, Ashworth

Man of Match: Yonas Amare

We are on the look out for a friendly game this Saturday afternoon, low to medium standard to get some match fitness back after having a break in games due to the lovely British weather if anyone can help us out get in touch

Open age men’s team in the Wigan district league

Sevenbrooks 1-2 White Lion

White Lion moved on to 22 points for the season this afternoon after a well fought victory over Sevenbrooks.

The team began well and created a few chances to take the lead but had to wait until 30 minutes in before going 1-0 ahead. Connor Dean finishing off a good team move.

Jordan Crook kept Lion's in the game at points with a couple of great saves; one tipped around the post and another flying save from a free kick.

Sevenbrooks were reduced to 10 men shortly before half time after a late kick out on Jack Ashworth off the ball.

Again Lion's started the second half in poor fashion, allowing Sevenbrooks to equalise within 5 minutes of the restart.

Lion's again created numerous chances but the Sevenbrooks keeper was having a blinder in goal and he also denied Connor Dean from the penalty spot. Connor Ormes calmly finished into the bottom corner with a great finish to put Lion's in to the lead once more.

The final 20 minutes Lion's had to battle for the win with Sevenbrooks having a few chances including a sitter from 5 yards not being taken.

Line up:

Crook; Fairhurst, Ashworth, Lomax; Houghton, Chadwick; Archer, Dean, Amare; Ormes, Hillyard

Subs: Grice, Humphries, Whenlock

Bolton Young Boys 3-8 White Lion FC

White Lion bounced back from defeat last weekend against Robin Park with a storming 8-3 victory against league leaders Bolton Young Boys at Little Lever school in the cup.

Lion's started the game on the back foot and conceded a few chances early on, with potential professional darts player Jordan Crook making a few decent stops, and Lion's took the lead against the run of play through Aaron Hillyard.

BYB then equalised after some sloppy defending from a throw in to make it 1-1. Shortly after the opposition took the lead with a contentious offside goal. 1-2.

Manager Ben Humphries was vocal on the sidelines and let his feelings be known and the lads responded in the right way. Soon enough, Lion's grabbed their second of the game to draw level at 2-2 as Hillyard secured his brace.

Lion's then took the lead with Chris Oliver heading home from a lofted cross from the right hand side by full back Sam Fairhurst.

A Young Boys midfielder could have been dismissed shortly afterwards for a cynical off the ball lunge at Hillyard which caused a flare up on the pitch but the player only received a caution.

Five minutes before half time Lion's increased their lead further through Mario Akinyemi's close range finish after Hillyard missed a chance for his hat trick. 4-2.

The second half was an action packed one both for goals and incidents. Goals from Lee Chadwick from range, a Graeme Archer back post header, a cracking free kick from Jack Ashworth and a somewhat fortunate cross-shot from Fairhurst sealed the victory. In between there were two red cards for Bolton Young Boys and one for Connor Dean.

Lion's face East Leigh next weekend at Queens Park.

Starting line up:

Crook; Fairhurst, Lomax, Oliver, Hindley; Amare, Archer, Dean (c); Akinyemi, Chadwick, Hillyard

Subs: Ashworth, Ormes, Grice, Humphries, Whenlock

Goals: Hillyard 10', 15', Oliver 30', Akinyemi 40', Chadwick 60', Archer 70', Ashworth 80', Fairhurst 90'

MOTM: Amare

Cautions: Lomax, Dean, Hindley, Hillyard, Ormes
Dismissal: Dean

Wigan Rovers 0-3 White Lion

White Lion bounced back from their poor performance and defeat last weekend with a 3-0 victory over Wigan Rovers in a game that was played at Queens Park due to a waterlogged pitch in Wigan.

A brace from Aaron Hillyard and stunning Lee Chadwick free kick provided all three points and a vital penalty save from Jordan Crook helped as Lion's were temporarily reduced to 10 men.

There is no game scheduled for next week but Lion's now move up to second in the league table, 3 points behind Bolton Young Boys.

Starting line up:

Crook; Hindley, Oliver, Ashworth, Fairhurst; Dalley (c), Archer, Dean; Amare, Chadwick, Hillyard

Subs- Grice, Poole, Ormes, Humphries, Houghton

Scorers- Hillyard '8, '20, Chadwick '86

Red Lions 3-2 White Lion

It was an afternoon to forget at the weekend as White Lion slipped to defeat away to Red Lions, having held a 2-0 lead at half time.

Connor Dean scored a brace with two headed goals but complacency set in through the team in the second half and were punished with two late goals.

The result needs to act as a motivator for the rest of the season as Lion's look to continue to build on a decent start overall.

Starting line up

Crook; Chadwick, Fairhurst, Lomax, Hindley; Dalley, Archer, Dean; Amare, Grice, Hillyard

Subs- McGuinness, Humphries, Ormes, Whenlock

White Lion v Red Lions

White Lion look to increase their unbeaten run in the league at the weekend as they face rivals Red Lion's in an away fixture at Little Lever school.

Lion's head into the game having secured victories against Wigan Rovers and Digmoor in the previous two matches. The match should be an interesting affair as Red Lions themselves are two unbeaten.

There are a few absentees for the Lion's but it is an opportunity for some players to come into the team and stake a claim for more minutes.

Victory would see Lion's move on to 16 points but the team need to be switched on and concentrated throughout the match.

Skipper Josh Dalley is upbeat ahead of the fixture "the team have been training really well of late and are looking to carry on our recent form and the football we have been playing has been great".