MGBSFL DIVISION TWO
HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB B 1 MACCABI LONDON LIONS B 4

Sam Marchant admitted Maccabi London Lions B were far from their best after boosting their promotion hopes with a 5-1 success over Hendon.

Josh Bloom added another two goals to his tally as the Lions B boosted their promotion hopes.

After a two week break, Lions welcomed Hendon United Sports B to the Lane for the first meeting between these two sides this season. Lions welcomed back a few played from injury and university and looked to build on the 6 match unbeaten run of the last few months.

Both teams started cautiously with passes going astray and chances few and far between. Lions were very slow out of the blocks and were struggling to create any kind of opening.

It took a moment of magic from Benji Weinberger to break the deadlock for Lions. The Lions defence cleared a Hendon corner with the ball falling to Weinberger just inside the Lions half. He then drove at the Hendon defence, taking it round four players to then slot it past the goalkeeper.

The game continued in its scrappy manner with neither team able to gain a foothold in the game. But it was then Lions who went further ahead after a great pass from Josh Bloom fell into the path of Daniel Mattey who then tucked it under the onrushing Hendon goalkeeper for a two-goal lead at half-time.

It was Hendon who came out stronger at the start of the second half with Lions goalkeeper, Marc Brahams, making a couple of good saves The Reds pulled one back with fine goal after lovely link-up play between Gideon Barth and Benni Sluckis before Barth finished superbly.

Lions then stepped up their game with more chances coming their way. Their continued pressure was rewarded when left-back Daniel Fatal scored a cracker from 30 yards which has to be up there with goal of the season.

They finished strongly with Bloom grabbing two good goals to provide a shine to a good win for Lions despite not necessarily getting out of second gear.

Lions boss Sam Marchant told JC Sport: "It was a bit of a strange game for us today, and in honesty, the scoreline flattered us a bit.

"We weren’t at our best today, and Hendon made it very difficult at times, but we got the three points and that’s all that matters. Very happy with the result and it puts us one step closer to promotion."

Hendon manager Adam Glekin told JC Sport: "I think the scoreline flatters them, there really wasn't much in the game. We've gone in at half time trailing 2-0 despite being the better team thanks to one impressive solo run and then we've conceded a sloppy 2nd just before half time."