Sport
Lions got off lightly, says Blank
Ric Blank insists Oakwood should have won by a landslide after a hat-trick from DAVE WOOLMAN inspired them to a crushing 5-2 win over Lions Blue.
October 20, 2014 11:57
Ric Blank insists Oakwood should have won by a landslide after a hat-trick from DAVE WOOLMAN inspired them to a crushing 5-2 win over Lions Blue.
October 20, 2014 11:57MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
OAKWOOD A 5 MACCABI LONDON LIONS BLUE 2
Ric Blank insists Oakwood should have won by a landslide after a hat-trick from DAVE WOOLMAN inspired them to a crushing 5-2 win over Lions Blue.
Despite being depleted through last-minute injury to Sam Lipton and poor availability due to weddings and hen parties, the Lions team had enough quality to go into their away fixture with high hopes, particularly on the back of a good win the previous week against high-flying Harmen.
On a top-quality 3G pitch at Colney Heath on a warm and sunny morning, the Lions were in good spirit before the game. However, despite a rallying pre-match talk from skipper Cameron Most, a slow start and only poor finishing from Oakwood kept the game scoreless in the first 15 minutes.
Oakwood's early pressure eventually told as from a Lions throw in the middle of the park, the hosts won possession and a square Lions defence was easily breached by former Lion Helman.
Helman doubled his tally after forcing another defensive error and it was only a fine save just before half time from David Kosky that kept Lions in the match.
New signing Ric Jacobsen from Sydney was the one bright spot from an otherwise poor first half Lions performance.
Lions came out brightly for the second half and soon narrowed the deficit with fine finishing from Jacobsen after great work from strike partner Dan Green.
However, the two-goal lead was soon restored when from a poor Lions goal kick the Lions defence was caught flat once more and Woolman applied the final touch.
Lions tried to get back into the game against an Oakwood defence that looked vulnerable when under pressure and came close with a long-range effort from Jon Ellis, and the lively Jacobsen and Green looking more threatening as the game progressed.
Oakwood, though, went 4 -1 up with another from the lively Woolman, but Lions continued to battle and netted a second with 30 to go following more good work from Jacobsen and Green, with the latter taking his chance well to keep Lions in the mix.
Jacobsen had a half chance to make it 4-3 but it wasn’t to be after good defending and it was left to Woolman to seal the points in the closing minutes.
Delighted Oakwood joint-manager Ric Blank told JC Sport: "We were fairly comfortable today and, despite contending with 10 absentees, controlled the game from start to finish.
"The first half is as well as we've played all season and we really should have been more than two up at half time.
Woolman was causing untold problems up top, while both Si Davies and Lee Warner had their best games in an Oakwood shirt. Both are two young players, new to the squad who have a chance to become massive players at Oakwood.
Lions pulled one back in the second half following a rare lapse from the otherwise impeccable Eddie Manson. But it didn't seem to affect him, with Oaks boss Ric Blank telling JC Sport: "Having him back boosted everyone and as I watched him tuck into his pint that afternoon, he looked as contented as i've seen him ... possibly ever."
Woolman scored a quick-fire hat-trick to put the game out of sight and Blank thought "we were going to go on and score eight or nine - but it wasn't to be".
He went on to say: "It was good to get back to winning ways though we know tougher tests await."
Stand-in Lions boss David Kyte told JC Sport: "Overall we're disappointed as a little more desire and tactical and positional awareness could easily have seen a different result.
"Training this week and fitness will be the key to a good result on Sunday and the start of a good cup run against unbeaten King Crown who lead Division Three."
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