Lions Masters set up a home quarter-final against Globe Rangers thanks to what was in the end a convincing 6-1 victory over Wandsworth Borough in this third round AFA Vets Trophy tie.
November 17, 2014 14:28ByAnonymous, Anonymous
AFA VETS TROPHY ROUND THREE
LONDON LIONS 6 WANDSWORTH BOROUGH 1
Lions Masters set up a home quarter-final against Globe Rangers thanks to what was in the end a convincing 6-1 victory over Wandsworth Borough in this third round AFA Vets Trophy tie.
Andy Myers, Jon Rayner, Pete Lazard and Craig Henry gave the side their usual solid platform, granting keeper Brad Lee the quiestest of afternoons in the process.
But with their opposition sitting off in the early stages it needed Lions to inject some pace and movement into proceedings which was, for the opening 25 minutes, sadly lacking.
There were, of course, openings, but nothing that unduly troubled the Boro keeper. An injury to Danny Reuben forced Lions into an early change, and with the introduction of the ever energetic Gideon Barnett so came the spark Lions needed.
Within minutes he combined with Gold to win Lions a corner. Lazarus' delivery was on the mark, Myers rising to power a header that was kept out only by as good a save as you're likely to see at this level, unfortunately for the keeper Lenchner was yet again in the right place at the right time to force the ball home.
Richard Baum started to be influential, and his mazy run and shot was deflected inches wide. Lazarus again delivered the resultant corner with quality, this time Lenchner made a super run across his marker at the near post, powering in an acrobatic header to double Lions' lead with a really terrific goal.
Boro spurned chances at the end of the first half and start of the second to get back in the game and were soon punished for that when Barnett pretty much put the game beyond doubt, clipping home a delightful finish from fully 25 yards.
Gold was a real menace, and after a brilliant run and cross saw a goal disallowed by a most debateable off-side call he went one better, linking with Baum before driving in a gem of a cross that Barnett ran onto to head down into the bottom corner.
A slip by Lee gifted Boro a consolation at this point, but any feint hopes of that sparking a comeback were soon snuffed out as Danny Piler fed in Lazarus who rounded the keeper and tapped home.
And there was time for a late sixth, another Lions corner was this time powered home by Myers.
Overall few negatives when you score six, but the Lions squad know tougher tasks lie ahead in all competitions.
LIONS: Brad Lee, Andy Myers, Jon Rayner, Pete Lazard, Craig Henry (sub: Max Radford), Danny Piler, Tony Gold, Danny Reuben (sub: Gideon Barnett), Richard Baum, Bradley Lazarus, Paul Lenchner