MIDDLESEX COUNTY FA VETS CUP QUARTER-FINAL
LONDON LIONS 1 HOLYPORT VETS 0
A terrific quarter final, fiercely contested between two excellent sides but played in a great spirit, was settled in the dying minutes by a team goal worthy of winning any game, with Paul Lenchner's outstretched boot providing the final touch that gave Lions the semi-final berth they probably just about deserved.
With the late loss of Scott Levy and Bradley Lazarus, and with Guy Morris' alarm clock as (un)reliable as ever, Lions were forced to give starts to both Lenchner and Andy Myers despite both having played the full 90 minutes in the AFA Quarter Final barely 18 hours earlier. It was however a strong line up put out by Dan Jacobs and Dan Reuben to take on high-flying Middx Sunday Vets Premier Division side Holyport.
Defensively Lions were excellent from the off, and they needed to be against a strong and mobile Holyport front-line. The visitors had a clear height advantage, but Myers, Adam Myeroff and Morris dealt with the aerial threat superbly, while the pace and strength of Marc Greene at right back saw him have an outstanding game from start to finish.
After an early reshuffle that saw a struggling Adam Kaye withdrawn to allow him to stretch off to come back later, Russell Brill, Alex Levack and Craig Pearl soon got on top of their games and passed the ball well. Danny Sugarman was a menace down one flank while Hadley Silver put in a near faultless display on the other as both worked tirelessly to supply and support Lenchner.
Before he left, Kaye jinked his way through but shot tamely at the keeper, followed soon after when Pearl found space but also couldn't apply the finishing touch. Lenchner was then foiled by some brave goalkeeping as Lions pushed for the opening goal, something they were inches from achieving moments later when Levack's long-range free kick was diverted on to the foot of the post by Pearl.
The second period remained a tight affair. Silver delivered a couple of peaches that first Lenchner and then Levack were inches away from converting, while at the other end, Lee, in the home goal, saved bravely himself before flying to acrobatically parry a stinging strike.
This was a fabulous game, with both teams passing the ball well but defending equally well, so it was going to take something special to win the tie. And that's exactly what Lions delivered as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Silver tracked back to win the ball deep in his own left back area. Most would have lumped out for a throw, but the Lions man managed to create a yard of space that allowed him to feed Myeroff who in turn instantly laid it to Morris allowing Lions to play from the back. The move continued, with Myers finding Pearl who played it on to Levack who sprayed it wide to Kaye. Lions were now bearing down on the Holyport goal in a flash, with Kaye one-on-one with his full-back. He made a dart for the line, grabbing the half yard he needed to deliver a drilled cross that Lenchner slid onto to divert the ball home from six yards. A true team goal of the highest order.
Holyport threw everything forward. Myers exacted a couple of superb clearances while Greene was calmness personified in snuffing out a burst into the box, yet hearts were in mouths as Lee was routed to the spot as a curled effort in the final moments whistled narrowly wide.
Lions saw out the game, almost doubling the score in injury time, but this time from Kaye's cross Lenchner's effort was blocked on the line by the keeper.
Double cup delight therefore for Lions this weekend as the Masters booked two semi-final dates to look forward to in 2015. This was a fine game and the side rounded off the calendar year with a team performance in which all 13 gave their all. Big props to Lenchner and Myers though for pushing themselves through two lots of 90 minutes.
LIONS: Bradley Lee, Russell Brill, Marc Greene, Adam Myeroff, Andy Myers, Alex Levack, Hadley Silver, Craig Pearl, Danny Sugarman, Paul Lenchner, Adam Kaye (sub: Guy Morris)
SCORER: Paul Lenchner
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Hadley Silver
