INVITATIONAL LEAGUE CUP FINAL
MACCABI LONDON LIONS 3 AMERSHAM TOWN 2

Strikes from Paul Lenchner, Hadley Silver and John Rayner ensured Maccabi London Lions capped a memorable season by adding the Invitational League Cup the Rowley Lane cabinet following this superb victory over Amersham Town.

The competition invites Masters sides from the London and Hertfordshire areas to compete and thus sees some of the bigger clubs wheel out their over-35’s. To make this final Lions had seen off Garston, Southgate, Hadley and Colney Heath, but having knocked out Winchmore Hill and favourites Interwood, the side knew only their best would be good enough to beat Amersham to the trophy.

Lions made one or two tweaks to their line-up, the most significant seeing Danny Piler deployed alongside Alex Levack at the base of the Lions midfield. From first minute to last the two were outstanding, energetic without the ball yet calm when on it, and it was from this base that Lions were able to play their stuff.

Both sides played some great football from the off at a game played at a relentless pace, certainly surprising a few of the onlookers new to this level of Masters competition. Lions were defensively excellent, Andrew Myers, Jon Rayner, Adam Myeroff and Rob Glass strong and disciplined against a pacey and physical front line, as good as they’ve faced this season. But they stood up to the challenges and kept Brad Lee in goal well protected.

At the other end, Lenchner worked his socks off, and with the pace of Tony Gold on one side and guile of Hadley Silver on the other it was Lions who started to shade proceedings. Craig Pearl was finding space, and he was first to get a meaningful shot away, his effort fizzing just wide. Gold then volleyed into the net, but his effort was ruled out for offside before he crossed on the run for Lenchner, but he was unable to direct his header on target.

With 25 minutes gone Levack started a Lions attack that went via Pearl and Silver into the run of Lenchner inside the right full-back. His ball across saw Gold need an extra touch to control, but the Lions man kept the ball alive before pulling back to Lenchner who had continued his run. Showing great strength with his back to goal he held of his man before spinning and rifling an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

Amersham pushed a little harder, but despite some excellent play could find no way through. But with the half drawing to a close an even first half ended on level terms when Myers, in trying to nick the ball, clipped the ankles of the Amersham No. 9 who dusted himself down before planting his spot kick emphatically home.

Lions shuffled their pack. Adam Kaye, Max Radford and Brad Lazarus came on to add some freshness. Kaye broke clear but was tripped right on the edge of box, Lazarus’ free kick gathered well by the keeper. Radford then crossed expertly, Gold’s strike parried by the keeper with no Lion on hand to prod home the loose ball before Radford unleashed a cracking effort that was matched by a wonderful save.

But with 63 minutes on the clock the deadlock was broken again by Lions and it was a goal worthy of a final. Myers stopped an attack, Piler picking the ball off him and feeding Levack out on the left. His quick feet saw him retain possession under close guard before he burst infield passed two helpless challengers. He skipped another lunge but, with no obvious through ball on clipped a delightful pass over the full back to the marauding Rayner. In behind he strode on five yards before drilling a low ball that the on-rushing Silver gleefully smashed home leaving the keeper no chance.

This was of course far from game over. Amersham gave it their all, Lions stood up well, none more so than Lee who stayed on his feet to perform the bravest of blocks on the one occasion Amersham got in behind, a match winning save? So it appeared, especially when with just minutes remaining Silver and Rayner combined again, this time roles reversed as the former’s cross found the latter’s head. The keeper made a fabulous save, but Rayner was able to poke home the rebound to send the Lions faithful into raptures.

Still though it wasn’t done. Lee made a great save just a minute later only for the loose ball to be converted to set up a frantic few moments, but when Kaye broke clear to win Lions a corner the game was up and Lions were the champions.

A fitting end to a superb season saw club stalwart Craig Henry collect the trophy along with skipper and top-scorer Bradley Lazarus.

Lions joint-manager Dan Jacobs told JC Sport: "Danny Reuben and I really couldn’t be prouder of, or happier for, this great group of players.

"Pound for pound they are competing at, and succeeding at, the highest level for an all-Jewish team, with our opposition boasting players who have graced the highest levels of the game.

"I think there were many watching for the first time who were genuinely surprised not by the quality, that’s expected, but by the speed of the game. We felt hard done by with regard the league so to bounce back and win this, the toughest of competitions, is a great feat.

"To a man the squad have remained together and have contributed – the deserve every bit of success."

There were notable mentions to Alex Levack, Hadley Silver and Bradley Lazarus who all excelled over the course of the season, few could deny that Craig Pearl (Player of the Season) and Rob Glass (Players Player of the Season) were worthy winners.