MIDDLESEX COUNTY CUP SEMI-FINAL
HOLYPORT 2 LONDON LIONS 4

London Lions reached the final of the Middx County Cup for the first time after winning a six-goal thriller against Holyport.

Having fallen foul of the weather twice already, this eagerly-awaited county cup semi-final tie against Holyport - along with British Airways one of the top two Middx League sides - was switched to Rowley Lane where the top pitch played host to a fantastic game.

With good availability it was a strong squad that Lions put out and an attacking line up that started the game with Brad Lazarus operating in an attacking midfield role and instructed to support the front three. However, despite a bright opening, the strength of Holyport saw them pressure Lions high up the pitch, starving Lions of the ball and in turn seeing them as the dominant force.

Within five minutes the visitors were rewarded for their work. A square pass from Craig Pearl was intercepted before Alex Levack could gather. A fine ball was slotted in behind Tony Gold who’d been caught out looking to support upfield and the forward gathered his composure, entered the box and, from the angle, drilled a fine finish into the bottom corner.

With Lions struggling to stem the tide, the management brought on the industrious Dan Piler to give them a better shape and discipline, and from this more solid base Lions were able to get back into their stride, but not before Holyport had a couple more excellent sights of Lions’ goal.

The pace of Saul Conway gave Lions an outlet and Paul Lenchner’s aerial strength gave Lions their first sights of the Holyport goal. One such Lenchner flick was only half headed clear, Pearl lashing a fine strike inches over before free kicks from Levack and Gold came within whiskers of finding a Lions finishing touch.

This was end to end – Rob Glass and Andy Myers excelling for Lions at the back, with Adam Myeroff and Gold using their pace to get Lions out of trouble at one end and support at the other.

The next goal would potentially be crucial, the game perhaps going Lions’ way on the half hour when, barely a minute after Holyport’s big number 6 somehow headed wide when unchallenged in the 6 yard box, Lions equalised.

The goal was a great one. Gold’s challenge broke up an attack, the loose ball saw Piler clip a pass down the line. It seemed to heading out of play but Hadley Silver bust his guts to slide and not just keep it in but execute a pass into the path of Conway. With a few yards of space he drove forward, drawing the defender before squaring for the onrushing LENCHNER to beat the keeper from the penalty spot with a brave first-time finish.

Having run themselves into the ground, Lions withdrew Lenchner and Conway, using their bench to its full with the introduction of Adam Kaye and Max Radford. Their energy paid almost instant reward, pressing Holyport back and forcing errors.

With half time approaching Kaye rushed a defender’s clearance, Radford on hand to back up, robbing the midfielder of the ball and striding goalwards. His crossfield pass was expertly taken on the run by SILVER, whose dummy of the keeper and covering defender - he sold it to all watching too! - was a skill to behold, opening up the goal for him to tap home before being mobbed by his team-mates. Sheer class – as good a finish as you’ll see.

Myers and Glass, protected by the non-stop work and energy of both Piler and Levack, continued to allow Lions the freedom to get bodies forward. This was anyone’s game, but on the hour a Lions double gave the side the breathing space they needed. Kaye’s energy and commitment saw him break clear, a decent save winning Lions a corner. Radford delivered, MYERS headed against his marker but was alert enough to watch the dropping ball onto his right foot, swinging a superb volley from 12 yards high into the net.

And within a minute the game was effectively over. Gold broke up another Holyport sortie and then burst fully 60 yards down the left flank before crossing low for LENCHNER. While he got his attempted finish all wrong, it mattered not as the ball ricocheted back off the defender and rolled into the empty net.

At this stage Holyport gambled, but the big gaps they left behind were fed upon with glee by the likes of Conway and Lazarus. They each worked at least three great chances for others, but, like the weather, the collective Lions shooting boots had gone cold, Lenchner, Myeroff, Pearl and Myers all spurning the opportunities to add to the scoring.

Holyport kept pressing to the end, Lee with one brave save keeping them at bay, but he could do little when in the dying moments a careless Lions throw allowed Holyport an overload which they took with aplomb. But this was nothing more than a consolation, the final whistle soon blowing to give Lions their berth in the final.