LFA Vets Cup, Sunday section Semi-Final - Charlton Rangers 1 London Maccabi Lions Masters 2
Goals from Adam Brand and Warren Leader put Lions into the LFA Vets Cup final after they beat Charlton Rangers 2-1.
Some say it was -2 degrees, others say it was -5 degrees, in any event it was a mighty cold morning in Swanley, which is rather a long way from Rowley Lane and surely the furthest that Lions have travelled to play in the London Vets Cup (the ground is actually in Kent!).
Anyhow manager David Kyte assembled a strong side for the Sunday section semi-final of this prestigious competition, persuading a number of over 35 legends to turn out, including the ever young Marc Morris and Paul Buxton who cut short his two-night honeymoon by one night to play.
Lions started well, defending strongly in numbers and breaking out when given the opportunity down the channels. After 18 minutes, Lions won a free-kick just outside the Charlton box, Warren Leader, who literally covered miles and miles of ground throughout the game, strode up and keeping the ball low through the wall blasted past the keeper to find the back of the net. 1-0.
Charlton responded well and rattled the bar twice but at half time it remained 1-0.
Lions continued to rotate well in the second half keeping players fresh and should really have extended their league after creating numerous good opportunities but it was Charlton who on 70 minutes took full advantage of a rare defensive error to level the scores. 1-1.
Lions picked up the pace again and sensing there were more goals began to push forward in numbers. On 80 minutes Brand found himself in space on the edge of the 18 yard box and as the ball came to him hit it first time low and hard leaving the keeper with no chance. 2-1.
Euphoria broke out at the away end, Lions remained organised and focused seeing out the remaining 10 minutes well and deservedly now go through to the Sunday section final of the competition on March 1 where the winners of this will play the winners of the Saturday section of the competiton.
Lions Masters: Danny Jacobs, Frank Steinberg, Craig Henry, Paul Buxton, Andy Miller (sub: Stacey Eden), David Kyte, David Price (sub: Ben Dale), Adam Brand, Warren Leader, Marc Morris, Philip Lewis
Man of the match: David Kyte (Lions)