Lions Vets pass Oakwood test

"We will need to sharpen up though for tougher challenges ahead as we spurned some gilt-edged chances to put the game to bed inside the hour.

"Credit Oakwood - and we wish them well for their season - though who were certainly spirited and never gave up, but in truth we managed the game pretty well in the second half, with Brad Lee in our goal not forced into anything other than the routine throughout, with Myers, Greene and Reuben all having fine games."

Oaks chief Jason Stein told JC Sport: "We expected a tough game, but we played superbly only to be let down by some wayward finishing.

"We knew Lions would come out flying - a whole day at home fasting with a wife and children screaming was always going to get them up for the game - and so they did.

"The start was tough, we knew how good Lions would be, and they didn't disappoint. Some of their passing and movement was far above anything we have come across. We found ourselves 1-0 down early on, but once we got used to the pace of the game we grew into it and were arguably the better side in the last hour.

"Masters scored a very sloppy goal from our point of view just before half-time when we failed five or six times to clear the ball and they took advantage with a well struck shot from outside the box.

"We made use of the roll-on and roll-off subs as the Masters tired and it's regretful that we missed so many chances. However, if we play like that every week we're going to go far and I've no doubt that Masters will be one of the toughest sides we will play this season."