PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL
OAKWOOD A 1 MACCABI LONDON LIONS A 3
Andy Landesberg praised his Lions team for executing their game-plan to perfection as they moved ominously into the semi-finals of the Peter Morrison Trophy at the expense of Cyril Anekstein Cup finalists Oakwood.
With a chance to get into the Peter Morrison semi-final, the Lions fielded a strong and much changed squad from the team that were comprehensively beaten the previous week against Hendon A in the MSFL. A number of players had lined up for the London Lions team in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division defeat less than 24 hours earlier.
On the all-weather surface in St Albans there could be no excuses for the state of the pitch, nor the conditions on a warm and still morning.
Lions started brightly with good possession and fluent football yet it was Oakwood who took the lead after 10 with top-scorer Dave Woolman scoring the goal from what the Lions deemed to be "a clearly offside position, that only the ref failed to see".
Lions however brushed themselves down and started to take control of the match with the The Max Kyte/Charlie Kasler combination influential. And on 25 minutes Charlie Kasler found the head of Austin Lipman inside the box who scored to even things up 1-1.
Josh Kennet brought a great save from Dan Cohen in the Oakwood goal soon after and then the game was delayed when former Lion, Kyle Bentwood in an innocuous challenge went down with a suspected broken collar bone.
After play was resumed a great team move from Lions starting at the back ended in similar fashion with Lipman getting his and Lions second, this time from a Kasler cross.
The second half continued to see Lions press forward and Adam Burchell saw a good strike miss the post by a fraction. Kasler was thwarted again by Cohen in the Oakwood goal and on 70 minutes Kennet secured the tie with a good finish after having been found with a great through ball by the returning Andy Glynne, back after a long injury lay-off.
James Harpin dealt with everything that came his way in the Lions goal and the back four of Lipman, Rose, Landesberg and Beresford were resilient in defence. And when Nathan Schindler and Adam Klein came on to replace some tired legs they did equally well.
Andy Glynne in the holding role played as if he’d never been away and the midfield quartet of Austin Lipman, Kennet, Kasler and Burchell always looked lively and Max Kyte worked the line tirelessly.
The fresh legs of Gold brothers, James and Richard, and Sam Shooter ensured that Lions kept up a good tempo and stopped Oakwood getting a chance to get back into the game.
Landesberg told JC Sport: "It was a good solid performance by the boys. It’s not easy playing two games in two days, especially after coming off a poor performance on Saturday.
"We had a long and frank discussion after the game Saturday, and I was very clear what was expected on Sunday against Oakwood. Every single player responded, and we delivered what we had talked about.
"Oakwood are a good, strong and very competitive team, and I was totally serious when I told the boys in the pre-match talk that I would love to see two or three of their players in our squad.
"Oakwood were obviously disappointed, but they should take credit for the fact that I knew I needed our best players to be able to beat them, that is how highly I rated them."
Reflecting on the performance of his players, Landesberg commented: "Nick Landesberg and Zac Rose looked comfortable at the centre of the defence, and it was great to have Andy Glynne back playing after injury and a honeymoon. He settled things down and was very tidy.
"Adam Burchell, just 18, continues to show us that he is more than an attacking force. He competed, challenged, tackled and really did put in a great shift. He is now very much a part of the first team squad.
"With Kennet, Kasler and Austin Lipman starting to show their class, it was difficult for Oakwood to hold on to a 1-0 lead that was against the run of play.
"For me the player who stood out literally head and shoulders above everybody was Max Kyte, he was in superb form, and put in a massive shift. He was involved in everything, and really did lead the line."
Oakwood joint-manager Dan Kristall told JC Sport: "In terms of the game itself, having to shuffle the defence and having 3-4 players who in all honesty, were not match-fit (that we had to rush back from the treatment room), in addition to being without key men and losing Woolman and Bentwood to injury in the first half, it meant that it was always going to be an uphill battle.
"I thought we contained Lions much better in the 2nd half but lacked that goal threat. We feel that if we had been at full strength, we could have given a much better account of ourselves.
"In terms of our opposition, we welcome playing against the best players - we'd love to do it every week. If those Lions players ever get bored of Saturdays, Sundays aren't so bad. But all we care about is that whoever they play in the next round, they have as strong a team out. We'll be seriously disappointed if Josh Kennet, Austin Lipman, Charlie Kassler and Max Kyte aren't available for Raiders Redbridge or whoever.
"For me, it is a bit of a shame for that they don't show a little more faith in their regular Sunday players who as a result don’t get an opportunity to play in the Jewish FA cup.
"The better side certainly won and we wish Lions good luck for the rest of the competition. I'm quite certain that if they play the same team for their remaining games, they will win the competition.
"We will now turn our attention back to the League and Anekstein with lots of big games still to play this season.
"We would also like to wish Kyle Bentwood a speedy recovery."
After Monday's night's Morrison draw, it was confirmed Lions will host MGBSFL champions North London Raiders A in the semi-finals.
LIONS: James Harpin, Adam Lipman, Zac Rose, Nick Landesberg, Will Beresford, Austin Lipman, Andy Glynne, Charlie Kasler, Josh Kennet, Adam Burchell, Max Kyte. Subs: Nathan Schindler, Adam Klein, James Gold, Richard Gold, Sam Shooter
