London Lions made it two out of two as they came from a goal down to win 3-2 against last season’s Herts Senior County League champions Met Police Bushey.
August 21, 2009 10:28
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
LONDON LIONS 3
MET POLICE BUSHEY 2
London Lions made it two out of two as they came from a goal down to win 3-2 against last season’s Herts Senior County League champions Met Police Bushey.
Adam Stolerman and a brace from once again man-of-the-match Lee Cash ensured victory at Rowley Lane with the hosts having keeper Matt Davis to thank for a superb penalty save.
Cash’s deadly double set Lions on their way to back-to-back Herts Premier league wins – but they made hard work of it in this five-goal thriller.
The former Maccabi League Player of the Year opened his account for the season in the 64th minute and doubled his tally 10 minutes later as Tony Gold’s men took complete control.
Stolerman’s second goal of the campaign in the 37th minute drew Lions level after they trailed to a header from the prolific Jamie Darby.
The hosts spent most of the second period camped in the visitors half, with the occasional Met Police threat on the break.
Lions stood up to a tough test in the final 15 minutes of the game with Davis producing a stunning penalty save and Adam Myeroff clearing a goalbound effort off the line. As the final whistle was blown the Lions breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The Lions made a good start but found themselves a goal down after they hit on the break leaving Darby unmarked to head home from close range.
The home side unperturbed were making all the play and were finally rewarded for their efforts as Stolerman rifled home an equaliser after a fantastic sweeping move involving Ben Lauffer.
Half time came and went as the Lions roared out of the blocks at the start of the second-half. Cash, who is in a rich vein of form, broke free and smashed home with his right foot from 18 yards.
Lions continued to dominate and looked to have finally killed the game off when Cash pounced for his second and Lions third. That appeared to be that.
But Met Police weren’t crowned champions last year for nothing and, having seen a penalty superbly saved by Davis to pull a goal back, they eventually rectified that miss as Darby expertly drove the ball home for his second of the game leaving Lions everything to do in the last 10 minutes.
The Police came close to an equaliser a few minutes from time after once again Lions failed to hold the ball and see the game to safety. Thankfully Myeroff was placed in the right position on the goal line and managed to smash the ball to safety.
“We knew this was going to be a tough, physical game” Gold said after the final whistle.
“We huffed and puffed and tried very hard in the second half.
“We gave away a soft goal at the start but otherwise I thought we were very solid.
“In the second half excluding the last 15 minutes I thought we were exceptionally good and they couldn’t get near us.
“The goal Stolers scored just before half-time helped us settle down and left Met Police with a little doubt going into the last 45 minutes.
“The lads have a day to enjoy tonight then its back to work on Saturday with a tough away game at Croxley.
Lions: Matt Davis, Danny Berg, Adam Myeroff, Ben Lauffer (sub: Danny Cole), Aron Barnes, Guy Morris, Rob Glass, Ben Lampert, Daniel Stanton (sub: Daniel Castle), Lee Cash, Adam Stolerman (sub: Daniel Levenfiche). Subs not used: Ben Graham, Andy Glynne
Man of the match: Lee Cash