Barnes Stormers were conquered by the Romans in the first clash between the two clubs eventually losing 5-3 to the hosts.
On a lovely sunny spring day on a fine pitch owned by Millwall Lionesses LFC in East London Barnes Stormers FC lined up against Millwall Romans for the first time.Without regular first team goalkeeper, it was up to central defender Billy Brice to step up and set up shop between the sticks for the first half. With Bricey in goal, the back four was shifted around a little bit with Conor Rooney and Tom Jackson striking up a new central defensive partnership. Although rocky early on contributing to an early goal for Romans, the duo sorted it out at the back and helped shore up the defence for the rest of the half.
At the other end of the pitch, George Fry was cooking up his own magic, really pressing the Romans' defenders and putting them under pressure with the assistance of striker Kai Francis to force errors. Able to capitilise on this, George was able to grab two goals helping his Stormers team go into half time with a 1-2 lead.
A goalkeeper change at half time to allow Bricey out meant Alfie Cooper stepping into the goal mouth and a slight re-shuffle of the defence. With slightly different players on the pitch, Barnes continued to push forwards and were perhaps over-zealous in the attack contributing to being caught on the break a couple of times. Unfortunately a couple of own goals from our defenders put the Romans' into the lead and although Kai was able to pull one back with a nice low shot into the bottom corner, it wasn't quite enough for Stormers to get back in front and the first meeting between the two sides ended 5-3 to Millwall Romans.
"It was a tightly contested match between the two sides and I felt after a rocky start, we really came into our own towards the end of the first half. I think half time came at the wrong time for us and disrupted our play a little. The second half started well but I think a little faitgue in the midday sun was to blame for a slower 45 mins," said player manager Tom Jackson. "Fair play to Millwall Romans though, they were a well drilled side and really upped their intensity in the second half and forced a couple errors that they were able to get own goals from. We're looking forward to the re-match when hopefully we can get a win to make up for today".