SAL CUP

MACCABI LONDON LIONS 2 OLD ALOYSIANS 1

Played on the big top pitch, and with a strong wind that favoured the visitors in the first half, the game took a few minutes to settle down. Aloysians had some excellent players, their front men were a real threat and their skipper quick with feet and thought to set them free.

A couple of good early sighters of Brad Lee’s goal came to nothing, although the Lions stopper showed excellent handling and good reading of the game to sweep up when called upon.

Lions began to settle, Richard Baum finding good passes into Paul Lenchner, Hadley Silver and Cash from where the hosts threatened, but the Aloysians keeper, although at times unorthodox, made good saves from all three.

However, when Daniel Stanton and Lenchner combined to set Silver in the clear he really should have given Lions the lead, but his finish lacked the power or accuracy required and the chance went begging.

Shortly after a long ball from the visitors caught Lions off guard, the ball bounced over Pete Lazard and released their striker inside the box. He allowed the ball to drop before lofting an exquisite finish over the stranded Lee into the far corner of the net.

Aloysians pressed Lions back before half-time as they sought a second, one acrobatic effort whistling just over, but the hosts in the shape of Adam Myeroff, Jon Rayner, Tony Gold and Lazard stood firm and it was just the single goal that divided the sides at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second period, Lions were able to be far more on the front foot. Adam Harvey’s energy, Craig Pearl’s strength and Daniel Stanton’s guile helped them ask more and more questions.

On the hour a deserved equaliser came, Stanton’s mazy run into the box saw him upended, but the loose ball fell to Cash who slammed home from close range.

Cash stung the fingertips of the keeper with a wicked curling free-kick and Adam Harvery drilled one an inch past the post as Lions pressed for a winner. It duly came in the final 10 minutes, Stanton slotting in Cash who finished across the keeper to give Lions a lead they never looked like surrendering from there.

Lenchner almost adding a third but his clever interception went just wide.

A really competitive game saw the Lions get their campaign in the new SAL Cup off to a winning start. With Albanians and Winchmore Hill making up their incredibly tough group, and with just the top two going through, three points was a real welcome return from the opening fixture.

LIONS: Bradley Lee, Jon Rayner, Tony Gold, Adam Myeroff, Pete Lazard, Adam Harvey, Richard Baum, Daniel Stanton, Paul Lenchner, Hadley Silver, Lee Cash. Subs: Danny Sugarman, Alex Norman, Craig Pearl

SCORER: Cash 2