PETER MORRISON TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL

MACCABI LONDON LIONS MASTERS 8 RC UK FC 0

RCUK are a young side from the MGBSFL Second Division, but having taken the scalp of Premier Division table-toppers Oakwood in the previous round, the Masters weren’t taking the opposition lightly. Yet from the off it was clear that this was going to be a game decided but what they did, mindful of course of the raw pace, energy and undeniable enthusiasm of their opponents.

As early as the second minute Paul Hakim was dumped to the ground. Sam Sloma whipped in the resultant free-kick that was glanced inches wide by Craig Pearl.  That delivery proved just a sighter for the skipper, as five minutes later from an almost identical spot his delivery found the far corner.

The Lions thought they had doubled their lead following a sweeping move down the left, with Josh Bentley’s bullet header flying past the helpless keeper, the ‘goal’ ruled out for offside.

But the second soon arrived and a great goal it was too. Lee Cash’s super delivery was expertly kept alive by Paul Hakim. Adam Stolerman gathered, turned his man inside out before crossing for Pearl to power a diving header home.

It was one-way traffic. David Soutar and Bentley ensured things were tight at the back, allowing Alex Levack and Adam Harvey to get forward to support almost at will. In front though Pearl and Danny Daggers were at their best and simply ran the game.

And with the freedom that afforded him, Sloma put RCUK to the sword.  The skipper danced through three challenges before slamming an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net before winning and then converting a spot kick to make it 4-0.

Hakim then combined with Cash, the frontman clipping home in fine fashion via the inside of the far post to make it 5-0 at the break.

RC UK did manage the first real chance of the second half, a fine long-range strike clipping the top of the bar, but from there it was business as before.

The Masters however spurned a number of good openings; Sloma, Saul Conway, Stolerman and Soutar all probably should have done better. The woodwork then came to the fore – Conway and Stolerman twice striking the post – before the RC UK keeper showed his qualities with fine saves to deny Stolerman and Daggers.

But he couldn’t prevent them finding the net three more times. Tony Gold and Conway combined down the left, the latter crossing deep for Gideon Gold to control and strike a sweet finish into the far post.

Conway’s pace and strength then took him clear before he unselfishly squared for Stolerman to tap home No. 7, Stolerman then rounded off the scoring from the spot after his goalbound effort was blocked by a hand on the line.

LIONS: Russ Corin, David Soutar, Adam Harvey, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Josh Bentley, Sam Sloma, Paul Hakim, Adam Stolerman, Lee Cash, Saul Conway, Danny Daggers, Tony Gold, Gideon Gold, Adam Myeroff

SCORERS:  Sloma (3), Stolerman (2), Pearl, Cash, G Gold