Maccabi London Lions tasted defeat for the first time in any competition this season after bowing out of the Herts Veterans County Cup on penalties.
In a game of small margins, fiercely competed in by both sets of players, the lottery of penalties was the only thing that could separate two evenly matched sides.
The honour of being the four under 40 permitted in this competition went to Craig Pearl, Rob Glass and Adam Harvey, who all excelled in the centre of the park, with Andy Myers lining up alongside Adam Myeroff at the heart of a defence that gave their all throughout.
On a bumpy and slippy pitch it was all about competing, and Lions did so from the off. With the slope in their favour they had the better of the early exchanges and were rewarded on the quarter hour when a long free kick was headed out to Glass who struck the sweetest of volley’s from 25 yards that sailed over the keeper into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.
But poor marking from a sloppily conceded corner gifted Wormley an equaliser, from there the game even with both sides seeing half chances. Brad Lazarus, Tony Gold and Paul Lenchner were often too far apart to exert any real pressure, but the marauding Pearl did all he could to get Lions ahead.
With the half drawing to a close more good work in the middle of the park saw Lions win back possession, allowing Gold to break away. As Wormley’s defenders backed off Gold took the invitation to shoot with relish, a second worldy of the game simply flew into the same top corner and Lions led at the break.
The second period, with the strengthening wind and slope now in the home side’s favours, saw Lions on the back foot. But outstanding work from Pete Lazard, Jon Rayner, Myeroff, Gold and Myers saw goalkeeper Brad Lee relatively untroubled.
Despite all their possession a series of long balls were repelled time and gain as the back line stood firm. Adam Kaye was now on and his pace caused the hosts some concerns, but when he picked up a needless caution his effectiveness diminished. But it was a his closing down that did force an error. Lenchner spread the play to Radford and his cross found Pearl in the centre of the goals, but he just couldn’t get over the ball to direct it on target.
With the clock ticking down into the final five minutes Wormley attacked down their right. Gold was unable to get close enough to stop the cross, the low ball fizzed across goal to be gleefully stabbed home at the far postand to take the game into extra-time.
Chances were limited for the first 15 of the 20 extra minutes, one Lenchner header looped just over for Lions, Wormley’s striker slicing wide when well placed. But with both sides out on their feet the incredible energy of Harvey almost brought Lions a winner. Breaking down the left he delivered to the far post – Max Radford controlled with his first touch before lashing goal wards with his second, the slightest fingertip from the highly impressive Wormley No.1 enough to divert it onto the post.
He then arguably did even better, Harvey’s cross was met by the head of Glass, the ball seemingly destined for the bottom corner before a hand snaked out to parry it to safety and take the game to penalties.
Sadly this is where it ended for Lions. Lazarus up first for Lions hit a tame one that allowed for an easy save, a lifeline granted when Wormley’s second crashed off the bar. But when Radford dragged his effort well wide Lions surrendered an advantage that Wormley wouldn’t relinquish again and, in the cruelest of circumstances, Lions were out.
A terrific game though – despite going out a pleasure to be involved in a proper, competitive game. For Lions many notable displays. Glass had a fine game in the centre of the park while Harvey and Rayner impressed those on both benches for their all action displays. But Myeroff and Myers at the heart of the defence were superb and really didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
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