Michael Pearson scored twice as Maccabi London Lions Vets overcame testing conditions at Rowley Lane to beat Rayners Lane 5-1 and take another step towards the Garston Vets League title.
March 11, 2019 17:03
GARSTON VETS LEAGUE
MACCABI LONDON LIONS 5 RAYNERS LANE 1
Another horribly blustery morning at Lane wasn’t enough to knock Lions off their stride as a really good first half against the elements all but secured the points.
Keeping the ball on the floor, some of the football was of the highest order, and a lead on 10 minutes was no more than the hosts deserved for their enterprising start. Midfielder Craig Pearl opened the scoring with a sharp turn and strike finding the bottom corner.
A superb passing move starting from Brad Lee in the Lions goal saw the ball moved from one end to other, but Saul Conway’s first-time effort at the end of the move couldn’t beat the keeper.
The lead was doubled soon after when Conway burst past the full-back and whipped in a low ball that the stretching Pearson diverted home at the far post.
Rayners Lane showed their skill though, and a superb move of their own really should have got them back in it, but the striker’s effort back across goal went inches wide.
The Lions scored their third on the stroke of half-time with Pearson the scorer again to give the hosts some real breathing space. An excellent half, only soiled by the loss to a calf tear of leading scorer Lee Cash.
Lane re-organised at the break and succeeded for long periods in making life hard for Lions. It was the hosts that always looked the more likely, although Lee earned his clean sheet with a couple of brave stops, getting a bloodied lip for his troubles.
Up at the other end, Adam Myeroff’s strike was deemed to have struck an arm, allowing Daniel Stanton to slot home the resulting penalty.
Conway was rewarded for his morning’s endeavours with Lions’ fifth, latching onto a through ball before rounding the keeper and rolling into the empty net.
There was time for a late cameo from Brady Lazarus, boots on for the fisrt time in a while as he steps up his comeback from injury.
A weekend with cup action on both days awaits next week.
LIONS: Brad Lee, James Abrams, Guy Morris, Rob Glass, Adam Harvey, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Daniel Stanton, Mike Pearson, Lee Cash, Saul Conway. Subs: Hadley Silver, Adam Myeroff, Bradley Lazarus
SCORERS: Pearson 2, Pearl, Stanton, Conway
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LEAGUE TABLE
1. ML Lions Pl. 14, W. 12, Pts. 37
2. Garston Pl. 13, W. 9, Pts. 30
3. Interwood Pl. 12, W. 8, Pts. 24
4. Winchmore Hill Pl. 13, W. 7, Pts. 22
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FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
March 16 - SAL Cup semi-final - Winchmore Hill (away)
March 17 - League Invitational Cup semi-final - Tansley (away)
March 24 - League - Winchmore Hill (home)
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