Sport
Lazarus leads MLFC to victory in AFA Cup
Bradley Lazarus fired a treble as MLFC made light work of visitors Enfield Old Grammarians in this AFA Cup second Round tie at a windy Rowley Lane.
November 4, 2019 17:07
Bradley Lazarus fired a treble as MLFC made light work of visitors Enfield Old Grammarians in this AFA Cup second Round tie at a windy Rowley Lane.
November 4, 2019 17:07AFA CUP ROUND TWO
MLFC 6 ENFIELD OLD GRAMMARIANS 0
This competition, showcasing the best of those aged 40+, is one of the country's largest Vets competitions, giving the MLFC squad the chance to test themselves against new opposition.
It was clear from the early exchanges that the hosts had just that bit more mobility, so with Alex Levack and Craig Pearl totally dominant in midfield Maccabi saw far more of the ball and were able to ask questions of the visitors almost from the off.
The aggression and drive of Paul Allen was a feature of the opening period and he created some early sights of the Enfield goal. Having put one off target early on, the lead was finally achieved shortly after the quarter hour when Paul Lenchner rose to plant home a fine header from Lazarus' pinpoint cross.
Provider turned scorer for the MLFC second, Mark Wagman delivered from the right for Lazarus, the Maccabi hitman, to execute a superb volley on the swivel from 12 yards.
And when Pearl crossed it was a this time an unmarked Lazarus who gleefully headed home.
3-0 up at the break the game was pretty much done. The early intensity naturally dropped a little but plenty of chances were created, the best falling to Lenchner, but his effort with the outside of the boot went inches wide. Again though Lenchner didn't have to wait long to double his personal tally, a confident finish making it 4-0.
As the game entered its latter stages, Paul Allen's mazy run and low left-footed strike gave him the goal his performance more than merited and the icing on the cake came in the very final minute, Lenchner driving towards goal, passing the opportunity to strike for his own personal hat-trick, electing instead to square for Lazarus to complete a treble of his own with the simplest of finishes.
A home tie with Hale End or Old Chigwellians on the December 7 is the reward for MLFC for this win.
MLFC: Brad Lee, Jon Rayner, Nathan Schindler, Adam Myeroff, Lloyd Nygate, Alex Levack, Danny Daggers, Bradley Lazarus, Max Radford, Paul Allen, Paul Lenchner. Subs: Alex Norman, Mark Wagman
SCORERS: Lenchner 2, Lazarus 3, Allen