PETER MORRISON TROPHY ROUND ONE
OAKWOOD A 8 MACCABI LONDON LIONS VETS 2
Unlike last season, Lions’ stay in the National Trophy was short-lived, with Oakwood gaining handsome revenge for the defeat inflicted on them at this stage last year.
With the game goalless, the Lions had their chances, with Curtis Bitton-Price seeing his free-kick come back off the bar. Craig Pearl was also denied by the woodwork, while Bitton-Price and Alex Levack whistled efforts wide. But they were soon pushed back by Oakwood's younger, faster legs, with Bharier and Cuby the chief tormentors.
Oakwood took the lead midway through the half and then doubled that shortly after in a game where there were also goals for Cuby, Ben Peppi, Toby Levy and the returning David Woolman.
Oaks joint-manager Dan Kristall told JC Sport: "We were missing some key front men, but the Josh's stepped up and played the perfect game. At 0-0, they had their moments but I felt as soon as we got ahead, we really took control. We passed the ball really well and scored some brilliant goals.
"We were superb, especially in the core middle part of the game between minutes 15-65, where we stepped up a level and produced some scintillating football. We used our extra power and pace in Cuby and Bharier who went through on goal time after time.
"We knew how tough this game would be, especially given what happened last year where we got out-fought and pushed aside so easily. I felt we learned the lessons as we were so determined to not allow it to happen again.
"Good luck to Dan and to Lions for the rest of the season. As for us, we have a fortnight to prepare for Hendon."
Paul Hakim and Lee Cash scored consolation goals for the Lions, and boss Dan Jacobs told JC Sport: "It was ultimately a day of what could go wrong did go wrong – shorn of six central defenders and then losing Curtis Bitton-Price and Levack to early injuries, Oakwood took full advantage.
"It was a bad day to be consigned to the history books immediately with focus on key league and cup games as the month plays out."
OAKWOOD: Joe Botchin, Josh Pistol, Tom Cantor, Alex Lee, Lee Warner, Ben Peppi, Rafi Stone, Josh Bharier, Kyle Bentwood, Josh Cuby, Toby Levy. Subs: Jake Bentwood, David Woolman, David Cohen
SCORERS: Peppi, Levy, Cuby 2, Bharier 3, Woolman
LIONS: Rob Abrahams, Jon Rayner, Danny Berg, Adam Harvey, Josh Bentley, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Daniel Stanton, Lee Cash, Curtis Bitton-Price, Saul Conway. Subs: Tony Gold, Paul Hakim
SCORERS: Hakim, Cash
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Josh Bharier (Oakwood)
