Lions Vets pay the penalty

This was by no means one-way traffic, in fact as well as Lions played Old Salvs were always on par and posing a constant threat. But in a game of few chances it was the hosts who had the best ones. Pearl was thwarted by the bravery of the keeper before Lazarus struck one straight down his throat.

At the other end, bar the concession of a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions, the back four continued to give Danny Jacobs ample protection.

Lions made the breakthrough with the half hour mark approaching. Lazarus whipped in a free-kick that the keeper spilled, Lenchner reacted quickest to slam home the loose ball.

The Lions were on top now and pushed for that vital second. From Silver's fine cross, Lenchner was inches away as he slid in at the far post and then, moments before the break, Lazarus' cross was somehow put over the bar by Myers from barely a couple of yards out.

Lions lost Pearl to injury in the opening moments of the second half and the failure to put some daylight between the sides before the interval came back to bite Lions shortly after as, having given away possession in a bad area Old Salvs were into the Lions box in a flash, ref Feenstra adjudging Myeroff's lunging tackle as a foul one and awarded a penalty that was slammed into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Neither side gave an inch and when Lions won a corner that Old Salvs failed to clear on the hour mark, there was Lenchner on hand again to smuggle home the loose ball to restore Lions' lead.

However, within a minute the whole tie was turned on its head. A break down their left saw a deep cross half cleared in the Lions box. The loose ball was nodded goalwards where neither Jacobs nor Myers took control. An outstretched boot prodded the ball past the Lions keeper only for it to strike the hand of Myeroff on the line. The rules being what they are, Lions paid the double penalty of losing the goal from the resultant spot-kick but worse Myeroff for the game as he was sent off.

Lions dug deep, and more resolute defending kept Old Salvs at arms length. In fact it was the hosts who came closest when Kaye's strong run saw them win a late free kick that was kept out only after an almighty scramble.

And so to extra time. Not only were they down a man but they also lost Myers to chauffeuring services required, but despite a rejigged defence the hosts stood firm. Chances were at a premium at both ends, the final whistle sounding with no further goals added to signal penalty kicks.

Up first, Lazarus, unfortunately, blazed high and wide. Old Salvs made no mistake with their first four, despatched with some aplomb, so despite conversions from Linger, Silver and Reuben, when Lenchner failed to convert Lions' fifth the tie was over and Lions were out.

LIONS: Danny Jacobs, Andy Myers, Adam Myeroff, Jon Rayner, Craig Henry, Craig Pearl, Matty Kleinman, Paul Linger, Brad Lazarus, Hadley Silver, Paul Lenchner. Subs: (roll-on) Max Radford, Adam Kaye, Danny Reuben

Lions MOM: Linger