London Lions reached their second semi-final of the season after humiliating their closest league rivals Belstone 10-2 in the quarter final of the Aubrey Cup.
February 14, 2017 11:47
AUBREY CUP QUARTER-FINAL
LONDON LIONS 10 BELSTONE 2
Top-scorer James Gershfield and Max Kyte helped themselves to hat-trick as the Lions turned on the style at Rowley Lane.
With no recognised goalkeeper due to injury and sickness, Lions manager Andy Landesberg had no choice but to use vice-captain Andy Glynne between the sticks.
The game started at a frantic pace with Belstone looking the most likely side to score and during the opening stages it was the away side who were dominating proceedings.
After 15 minutes Lions broke away down the left hand side and good play between Burchell and Gershfield found skipper Josh Kennet who rolled home the opener.
No more than five minutes later a long raking ball from centre half Ben Goldberg found Gershfield to score his first of the afternoon.
Belstone pulled one back when their left-winger beat Adam Lipman to deliver a cross into the box for an easy tap-in for the oncoming forward.
Lions were not rattled by this and went straight up the other end to make it 3-1, a superb piece of skill from Austin Lipman found Gershfield to score his second and Lions' third.
The Lions were now in control and they scored a fourth when a beautifully weighted ball from Furman into the path of Kennet who fired past the keeper.
Gershfield then completed his hatrick in some style, Lipman’s ball into Gershfield’s feet who was on the edge of the box managed to turn and swivel and smash a low shoot into the corner of the net to take him to 41 goals for the season.
With still only 40 minutes on the clock a wonderful team goal which was finished off by a Adam Burchell bullet header after being picked out by captain Kennet made it 6-1.
The second half started at a much slower pace and it was Belstone who scored next after being awarded a penalty after Lions left-back Charlie Rubin commited a foul in the area. Belstone’s No. 10 stepped up and made it 6-2.
Lions made three changes and Kyte, Arnold and Spitzer replaced Gershfield, Burchell and Furman. The move paid instant dividends as Kyte scored his first of the afternoon to make it 7-2. Kyte then got a second after the keeper clearance fell into the path of Lions striker who chipped the ball into an empty net.
Last season’s top-scorer then completed his hat-trick and Lions nineth when he beat the keeper with ease.
With just two minutes to go Belstone’s misery was complete after Kyte unselfishly rolled in Lipman to make it 10.
Lions will now face Hatfield Social or Lemsford in the semi-final.
Lions coach Darren Yarlett said: "To be honest I am lost for words. I expected us to win today but not like this, the boys were absolutely ruthless, probably the best I’ve seen in my time here.
"I have seen us play better but the difference today was our forward players, they were superb.
"Today’s game was the start of a very important run of games for the club, we now have a week to prepare for our Herts Centenary Trophy semi-final againstBishop Stortford Swifts who we know are a very good side. We will need to be at our best if we want to get into the final."
LIONS: Andy Glynne, Adam Lipman, Nick Landesberg, Ben Goldberg, Charlie Rubin, Jake Furman (sub: Rocky Spitzer), Harry Hatchwell, Austin Lipman, Adam Burchell (sub: Adam Arnold), James Gershfield (sub: Max Kyte), Josh Kennet
SCORERS: Gershfield (3), Kyte (3), Kennet (2), Lipman, Burchell,
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: James Gershfield