By Neville Paterson
Tuesday, 15 October 2002

Croatia had a bit of a scare but eventually secured a four-two victory over Lions to take out the reserves cup final on Saturday.

The teams went into half-time locked at nil-all.

Lions had some good chances in the first half through Rendulic but on both occasions Croatia keeper Trevor Pears made a good save.

Croatia had chances through a Guy Best curling effort and a Kelly volley but none found the net.

Ten minutes into the second half a firm cross by Carr was met by a Matacin header and his effort went across the goal face and into the far side for a one-nil lead.

Five minutes later Michael Carr played a 'one-two' with Kelly and raced towards goal to slot it past Welgraven for two-nil.

Two minutes later the game looked over when Matacin lobbed the ball over the Lions defence for Kelly to chase.

Kelly's top volley whizzed past the keeper and planted into the net for what looked to be a match winning lead.

After 20 minutes Rendulic was sent-off, and with Lions down to 10 men and three goals a drift, it looked bleak.

But being the proud club they are they never gave up and after 25 minutes Oaten's low pass across the box was met by Calikes who knocked it in for three-one.

Five minutes later veteran Ronnie Clarke's glancing header also found the net to get the score back to three-two, and suddenly Croatia had a game on it's hands.

Then with 10 minutes to go John Warren, who only scored his first goal last week against City in the semis, unloaded a rocket from 25 yards that nestled into the top corner, meaning that Croatia lifted the cup with a four-two win.