Lions Vets suffer first defeat of the season - The Jewish Chronicle

GARSTON VETS LEAGUE WINCHMORE HILL 5 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 1 The Lions got off to the worst possible start when they lost defender David Soutar to injury barely five minutes in. However, the visitors settled well in what was a bright start by both sides. Blows were traded – Rob Abrahams with a vital block at one end, the Hill keeper with a superb stop to tip a Craig Pearl strike onto the post. Hill forged ahead on 20 minutes from a breakaway goal tinged with fortune. Tony Gold did well to get to the cross before his man, but his clearance struck Paul Lenchner and rebounded in the net. Lions then had their best spell and deservedly equalised when Mike Pearson skipped a couple of challenges before rifling a left-footed strike into the bottom corner. 1-1 was how it stayed top the break. Lions conceded a poor goal early in the second half, a long cross headed home from barely six yards, but the game turned in Hill’s favour soon after. Lee Cash was seemingly brought down in the box, the referee motioned to blow before allowing play to continue, and as is typical the ball was played forward and three passes later was in the back of Lions’ net. Try as they might from here Lions, despite no lack of effort, were unable to create enough, and with the spaces they left Hill picked them off twice more to give the scoreline a very one sided feel. Walthamstow, fresh from making it to the Essex County Cup Final, provide the test for Lions this week. LIONS: Rob Abrahams Tony Gold, Jon Rayner, Guy Morris, David Soutar, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Daniel Stanton, Paul Lenchner, Mike Pearson, Saul Conway. Subs: Lee Cash, Paul Hakim, Rob Glass SCORER: Pearson ALSO READ: MACCABI MASTERS REVIEW