GARSTON VETS LEAGUE
MACCABI LONDON LIONS 4 WINCHMORE HILL 0

Lions avenged their opening day defeat at Winchmore Hill with a fine team performance at Rowley Lane seeing them run out convincing winners and, in so doing, leap-frogging their opposition to the summit of the table.

The hosts made a couple of changes from last week’s cup win, with Max Radford returning and with Rob Abrahams wearing the keeper’s jersey. The latter had a solid game and deserved his clean sheet, the former making a real impact.

The visitors gave as good as they got early on as the top two in the league both showed why with some excellent team play. Rob Glass was impeccable, Adam Myeroff a mountain, and with the full-backs Dan Reuben and JOn Rayner more than doing their share Winchmore struggled to find a path to goal.

Abrahams was rarely tested, but when called upon he tipped a swinging corner over his bar and was then out quickly and bravely to block when the visitors thought they were in.

Alex Levack and Danny Daggers were starting to dominate, and with Craig Pearl finding spaces it was Lions who were the team asking questions. Paul Lenchner was showing his strength, holding up play and linking well with the wide men. Hadley Silver whipped in a dangerous ball that Pearl spun and struck sweetly goalwards, right at the keeper before a deft Brady Lazarus pass saw Pearl again in the thick of it, this time forcing a brave save from Winchmore’s no. 1.

Chances were coming, the goal when it came was a great one. Neat midfield play saw Levack and Pearl combine to find Lazarus. His driven cross was perfection, Lenchner inches away in the centre but Hadley Silver was at the far post to apply an expert finish.

With Saul Conway and Radford now in the fold Lions had further threat. Conway had a couple of chances that he couldn’t take, the keeper doing well, before Radford crossed on the run but Pearl stabbed wide when all thought he’d scored.

The second though did come shortly before the hour mark, Silver this time the provider as his low cross found Radford who’s finish across the keeper was emphatic.

Andy Myers was introduced alongside Glass to ensure no way back for Hill, the pair dealing with pretty much everything and allowing Myeroff and Rayner to support further forwards. Abrahams though was called upon twice, bravely punching clear before a flying parry, but in truth it was the visitors keeper who was showing his worth, denying first Conway and then preventing a goal-of-the-season contender after Rayner’s length of the pitch run.

The third goal did come with 15 to go, Lenchner latching onto a short back pass before rounding the keeper, unselfishley squaring to Radford who gleefully tapped home from close range.

The gloss was applied by Levack, his dipping 20-yarder deceiving the keeper for the fourth and final goal.

So Lions, with a run of five wins and a draw from their last six, head the league for the first time. Four teams will still fancy their chances in what should be a cracking end to the season, Lions delighted to be one those in the running.