GARSTON VETS LEAGUE

RAYNERS LANE 1 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 15

The brand new 4G at Rayners Lane certainly suited the visitors, and from the off the had almost total control of the ball. There was little however to suggest how the game would end up as the hosts defended resolutely and, when called upon, the keeper pulled of two fine saves to keep Lions out.

He was however powerless to stop a quite brilliant opening goal, Daniel Stanton weaving passed three players before firing with the outside of his boot into the far corner.

Cash was denied by another decent save but Lions added two more, Mike Pearson from close range and Hadley Silver’s composed slot gave the side a three-goal lead at the break.

Rayners Lane started the second period positively, Rob Abrahams with a brave stop to keep his goal intact. But when Tony Gold’s run and cross was turned in by Conway, and then moments later Cash flicked a header in, the floodgates simply opened as the hosts were carved apart by some fine Lions play time and again.

Cash completed a hat-trick, his final goal finishing off a superb team move, Conway doing likewise. Silver grabbed another, Craig Pearl found the net twice, Alex Levack curled in a 20-yard free-kick, Pearson netted his second with an absolute rocket and Paul Lenchner rounded things off, skipping past the keeper and rolling the ball home.

Somewhere in the mayhem Lane scored a consolation to blot the copybook, but it made no difference.

A good workout if nothing else with some fine play and excellent goals scored.

LIONS: Rob Abrahams, Jon Rayner, Tony Gold, Rob Glass, Paul Lenchner, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Daniel Stanton, Lee Cash, Saul Conway, Mike Pearson. Subs: Ben Lauffer, Hadley Silver

SCORERS: Cash 3, Conway 3, Pearson 2, Silver 2, Pearl 2, Stanton Levack, Lenchner