‘Caged’ Lions in rush to push on

LEICHHARDT Lions coaches would love nothing more than to train ahead of an enticing match-up against FNQ Football Premier League favourites Edge Hill United.

The Lions overcame a slow start against Mareeba to thump the Bulls 5-2 in their third-round FFA Cup tie at Lindsay Australia Stadium, and were set to face the Tigers in the first of two high-stakes games in three days.

But that back-to-back schedule – at home against Edge Hill United on Sunday evening then away to Stratford on Tuesday night – is heavily in doubt due to field closures caused by the week’s rainfall.

Lions assistant coach Karl Bennett is desperate for a look at the team many regard as favourites in both the Premier League and FFA Cup, but that is the least of his worries.

“We’re just trying to work out where we can train at the moment,” Bennett said.

The suggestion of an indoor hall, while always a handy wet weather option, was not ideal.

“That’s been our whole preseason,” Bennett said. “Drainage has been a bit of an issue since last year but we’ll do all we can to get on the field.

“We want to play at home, it’s where we feel most comfortable.”

Leichhardt would line up against Edge Hill United at an optimal time for the side.

It has momentum after the 5-2 shellacking it handed the Bulls, and would give the side the opportunity to work on things that didn’t go to plan.

“We did a lot of things right but we started slow and they scored against us early,” Bennett said. “They dominated the first 15-20 minutes of the game but we fought back.”

Edge Hill United swept Southside aside 4-1 at Walker Road Sporting Precinct, and will face Innisfail in the fourth round of the FFA Cup.

They could be on a collision course for the fifth round, a game with the right to represent FNQ Football against our southern neighbours up for grabs, but Bennett is not thinking that far ahead.

While he hasn’t looked past the second round FNQ Football Premier League game, Bennett said the Stratford battle would be tightly contested.

“I think a lot of people look at us and Stratford and think we’ve performed better than expected,” Bennett said.

“Everyone else looks at the names and reputations of the players at Edge Hill United and some other clubs.

“We haven’t seen Edge Hill play yet because our games have been at the same time, but Innisfail, they’ve got a young team who will make them work hard for it.”