Threepeat!!!

St Leonard’s Social II’s inexplicably managed to concede another late, late equaliser to draw 3-3 for the third time in three games against a battling Old Town Lions outfit on a windy evening down The Bully.

Social began the game in bright fashion, stringing together some neat passes whilst looking to threaten in behind the Lions defence. However the Lions began to grow into the game and the lively Alvin Scott was linking up well with the brutish Jack Brockhurst causing the Social defence much panic. It was from such a linkup that Scott cut inside from the left before finding an unmarked Brockhurst 12 yards out who finished well into the bottom corner to give the Lions a 9th minute lead.

Their joy was short lived though because Social quickly reduced the deficit after Mende was adjudged to have been brought down in the box just three minutes later. The resultant penalty was a thing of real beauty as the marvellous Ash McCann’s Panenka chip sailed gloriously underneath the crossbar as the prone keeper watched despairingly on.

Just 7 minutes later and McCann had turned the game on it’s head when he thumped home a low left footed drive from 20 yards after a Kieran Martin lay off.

Social were not looking their usual selves in defence and the Lions equalised in the 28th minute after a low cross from the right somehow skewed off the fortunate Brockhurst and spun inches over Lewis Bakers dive and under the crossbar. 2-2.

Then the Lions seemed to press the self destruct button as Brockhurst was sin binned indefinitely amid wild scenes on the touch line involving a rule book, Google and a phone call to the league chairman. Despite the man advantage Social couldn’t find a breakthrough and the half ended even.

Despite starting well in the second half Social failed to create many clear cut opportunities. Liam Baker was extremely unfortunate not to give Social the lead after he curled a stupendous 25 yard effort from the left hand side towards the far corner but saw it cannon back off the underside of the crossbar.

Then, with just two minutes remaining, Social did take the lead one more time as the energetic Jak Laidlaw worked brilliantly in midfield before spinning and sending a precise through ball towards Larkin who instinctively lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper from around 25 yards out and, despite the valiant attempts of the Lions centre half, saw the effort trickle over the line to give Social an apparent victory.

But it wasn’t to be as a long throw in from the left managed to bounce over everyone and land at the grateful feet of Scott who spun and scored from 8 yards out to give Social that all too familiar feeling of another missed opportunity.

Despite the result it wasn’t a bad performance from Social and they now must rest their tired legs for the home tie against high flying Northiam 75 II on Saturday afternoon. #socialarmy