MGBSFL DIVISION THREE
MACCABI LONDON LIONS GREEN 2 BOCA JEWNIORS 2
A last-ditch strike from Josh Marlow earned Boca Jewniors a battling point against a Lions Green team who finished a four-goal thriller with 10 men.
Gale force winds and a diabolical playing surface set the tone for Lions’ first fixture of 2015. With shots on goal a rarity, Lions had to rely on a first half penalty; converted by Colmans, to separate the two sides in an otherwise drab first half.
It seemed that more of the same was to come from the second 45 before the match sparked into life in the 70th minute.
Boca fought hard to get back into the game and a couple of substitutions changed the pattern of play. After an innocuous-looking tangle in the penalty area between the Dale Bradman and Grant Bates, the referee pointed to the spot. With Bates already on a booking, there was no other option that to send the Lions midfielder off. The industrious Lioz Tov converted the resulting spot kick and left Lions with a mountain to climb with 20 minutes to go.
Boca fans expected the hosts to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but despite the odds being stacked against them, the dismissal seemed to invigorate Lions and they began to mount a some pressure going forward. Then, with 85 minutes on the clock, Aaron Spalter clipped a ball in behind the Boca defence and Black lofted the ball over the Ryan Monk to send the Lions back into the lead.
There was still time for one final twist, however, as Tov's marauding run was unceremoniously halted. He dusted himself down and took the resultant free-kick from 25 yards which was parried by Ed Bloom, before Josh Marlow slammed home the rebound from an acute angle.
Boca's Anton Nyman told JC Sport: "It was a very tight game today in the windy conditions dominated by a midfield battle."
A Lions spokesman told JC Sport: "It proved to be a fair result on the balance of play, but Lions will be looking at their next two home fixtures against Hendon and Boca for maximum points."
