GARSTON VETS LEAGUE

JAMROCK 1 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 5

The visitors were greeted with a small, bumpy pitch and tough, physical opponents, and with Lions having injuries and non-availability to deal with too, this made the result all the more pleasing.

The opening half hour saw both sides struggle to retain possession, the pitch getting the better of them. In an even battle both had their chances, Rob Abrahams saving well to deny Jamrock, Lee Cash hitting the post following a fine sweeping Lions move. Defensively Lions really stood up well, Adam Myeroff and Jon Rayner at the heart of a back line that really did its job, Tony Gold then stepping in expertly when the former had to leave at half time to get back to manage his kids’ game.

The game was though effectively decided in the last six minutes of the first half when Lions scored three goals that transformed the complexion of the game. Another good move down their left involving Conway and Hadley Silver saw the ball squared to Cash who this time finished well. 

And when a long ball barely a minute later was seemingly lost in the sun by the keeper, the livewire Conway nipped in to rob him and tuck home.

With the half-time whistle approaching a third and killer goal, Conway latching on to the through ball to rifle home on the run.

Jamrock pressed, but with Alex Levack and Craig Pearl doing a superb screening job and Daniel Stanton always available, it was in truth Lions that looked the more dangerous.  So even though the hosts did get a goal back, when Stanton found Cash he slipped in a delightful pass to Conway who finished first time into the far corner to restore the three-goal advantage and secure his personal hat-trick.

And the icing on the cake came late on when Lazarus first won and then despatched a free kick from 25 yards out into the bottom corner.

LIONS: Rob Abrahams, Adam Myeroff, Jon Rayner, Tony Gold, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl,  Hadley Silver, Daniel Stanton, Brad Lazarus, Lee Cash, Saul Conway. Subs: Danny Berg, James Abrams

SCORERS: Cash, Conway 3, Lazarus

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Saul Conway