London Maccabi Lions Under 10s claimed a pair of victories over Edson.
On the first warmer Sunday afternoon of the year, on a big tacky pitch in Burnt Oak, the Lions produced two great performances of quality football, to secure two wins and a real statement of intent to stake a claim near the top of the league.
In match one, the Lions started well and despite the opposition being physically strong, played some lovely midfield triangles and moved the ball well.
After nine minutes a great move starting from a great Sam Fresco clearance from defence to Raphi Auret who threaded the ball to Oscar Cohen who fired home from close range.
After 11 minutes the most contentious moment of the match, after an unintentional deflected Oscar Cohen backpass, and collected by Ethan Djanogly, the referee harshly invoked the backpass rule, and the resulting free kick from the penalty spot was fired home for a 1-1 scoreline, despite all seven Lions defending on the goalline.
The brave Lions kept their heads and were ahead again within two minutes. The Man of both matches Saul Fenton, a bandaged giant in a roving midfield role, found Joseph Gale who fired majestically low and hard into the bottom corner for a 2-1 scoreline after 14 minutes.
An even second half ensued and both teams strove for the decisive goal. Ben Lazarus and Matthew Stern were Trojans in midfield and Sam Martin a little terrier up front. With two minutes left a great Lions move saw Ben Feldman find Saul Fenton, who shot low and the ball found a way into the goal via a defender and the goalkeeper, to secure a great 3-1 victory.
With the bit between their teeth, the Lions went in search of victory in match two. In a quiet first half both teams cancelled each other out with few chances. The Lions legendary passing game deserted them, only for a while, and Edson too failed to muster many chances.
The match came to life in the second period when a few Lions positional changes. After 21 minutes one of the Lions great short corners came to life and Fenton fired home for 1-0.
A frantic ending saw chances for both sides. Ethan Djanogly made some lovely low saves from the Edson attacks, Ben Feldman was great in midfield, Ben Lazarus went on a couple of his mazy runs, and Sam Martin fired a great shot that was saved by the Edson keeper.
With 2 minutes left, was the goal of both games, as Cohen picked up the ball on the right and shot high, hard and direct into the goal to score a great 2-0 win, and six points in the title chase.
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