By Danny Caro
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP ROUND TWO
FC TEAM C 3 MACCABI LONDON LIONS B 7
DEAN ROSENTHAL helped himself to a second-half hat-trick as Lions B set up a third round meeting against Oakwood B after turning on the style against FC Team C.
Further strikes from Eli Cohen, Josh Bloom, Benji Weinberger and an own goal secured their passage into round three.
The visitors came out the blocks firing in the first 10 minutes but they were unable to capitalise on a number of chances and they found themselves a goal down when a 60-yard bouncing free-kick somehow found it’s way into the back of the net.
The Lions made a few tactical changes at half time which paid off when Weinberger scored minutes in.
Team then equalised soon after but again the Lions showed a positive reaction. It looked like Team’s lack of match fitness took its toll as the classy Rosenthal scored three goals in quick succession to seal the game.
Bloom then capped off a fantastic second half performance in the 90th minute when he flicked the ball up to himself in the box and smashed it into the top right hand corner.
Lions boss Samuel Marchant told JC Sport: “We weren’t to sure what to expect coming in to today, facing a Team side who hadn’t played a competitive match thus far.
"Going 1-0 down, something that hasn’t happened to us so far was not what we planned, but the boys reacted well. We had a brief blip in the first half where we were second best, however we finished the half on top.
"An awesome second half performance was what got us through this game and we can’t wait to head into the second round of the cup where we’ll face Oakwood B who are in the division above us and will prove to be formidable opponents."