The pressure they were applying duly told, Pearl’s superb ball freed Silver who delivered a low cross that Lazarus beat his man to, skillfully poking it past the keeper from close range.
Fine team play should have seen Lions double the lead, Danny Daggers twice unable to find a way past the Mayfair keeper when presented with golden opportunities, and for those misses they were almost punished either side of half time as Mayfair’s front man first hooked a fine effort inches wide before Brad Lee in the Lions goal stood up well to deny a one on one chance.
With Tony Gold now pressed further forward his pace was a good outlet. And thus after a sloppy start to the second half the hosts began to get joy when they went wide. Chances were being carved out with Daggers and Alex Levack now controlling midfield, Pearl’s driving runs were causing Mayfair concern.
The second eventually came when from a quick throw the ball was worked back to Silver, his pinpoint cross met by a bullet of a header from Pearl, and with that goal Lions knew they were home.
Pearl was then denied by a brilliant tip over from the keeper, but was soon involved as Lazarus was sent clean through and finished with aplomb for the third.
A semi-final awaits with Garston in what should be a cracking match.
LIONS: Brad Lee, Tony Gold, Jon Rayner, Adam Harvey, Rob Glass, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Danny Daggers, Brad Lazarus, Hadley Silver, Max Radford. Sub: Matty Kleiman
SCORERS: Lazarus (2), Pearl
