MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
ATHLETIC BILBAUM 0 MACCABI LONDON LIONS B 5
A goal of the season contender from Josh Bloom helped Lions B move towards promotion with a big statement of intent as they scored five times against Bilbaum at Market Road.
Further strikes from Nick Landesberg, Linden, Keller and an own goal secured the points for the Lions.
Lions made the long trip to Islington today as they faced an Athletic Bilbaum side who had been on a good run on form in recent weeks. In the reverse fixture on the first game of the season, Lions came out on top but Marchant stressed that need to be switched on from the first whistle.
It was Lions who started the brightest with everyone enjoying a bit of time on the ball in the first 10 minutes with some good possession football being played. Lions’ possession paid off when Josh Bloom scooped it over the defender for Landesberg to finish cooly with his left foot. First blood Lions.
Lions continued to dominate the possession with Bilbaum struggling to keep up with the movement of Lions’ front four. Then despite having a couple of half-chances Bilbaum went 2-0 down as Lions attacked with pace as Bloom played a great ball to Benji Weinberger who spotted to over-lapping Landesberg who’s cross was put in by the Bilbaum defender.
Then just before half-time an outswinging corner from Sammy Kingston was headed in by Zak Linden, a great finish that left the goalkeeper with no chance. Lions went in at half-time 3-up.
Marchant and Nagli asked for more of the same from the boys, yet it was Bilbaum who started the second half the brightest. Lions couldn’t keep the ball, but they were fortunate that Bilbaum couldn’t convert their pressure into goals.
Jamie Kyte had come on at half-time for the returning Daniel Mattey after Mattey had felt his hamstring, and it was Kyte who became the provider for Lions’ next goal, and it was one that everyone in attendance is likely to remember. A Sammy Kingston corner fell to Kyte who put it back into the mixer for Bloom to acrobatically finish past the Bilbaum goalkeeper. A definite contender for goal of the season.
And then right on cue, Zak Linden, having scored a great header in the first half, went down with cramp.
To put the cherry on the top of a good team performance, Aron Keller curled in a great shot for Lions’ fifth and final goal of the day.
Boss Samuel Marchant told JC Sport: “It was a good result and we are happy. At half-time we were 3-0 up and it was relatively routine but we knew we couldn’t get complacent and we wanted to kill the game off.
"Bilbaum came out firing second half and really woke us up as they forced a few saves and hit the crossbar from a well-worked corner.
"We might not have been up to the same standards as a few weeks ago however that didn’t matter as we did what was required on the day, and kept a clean sheet which is always pleasing.
"We’re all feeling good in the squad and we hope to really close in on the promotion spot."
