Unlucky Lions go down fighting against Letchworth - The Jewish Chronicle

HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE PREM DIV LETCHWORTH EAGLES 2 LONDON LIONS 1 London Lions succumbed 2-1 against Letchworth Eagles in a game they felt major decisions did not go their way. On a bitterly cold, wet and windy afternoon with a heavy Letchworth pitch it was going to be all about desire, attitude and teamwork. Lions started brightly and James Gershfield brought a good save from the Eagles keeper after 18 and a minute later Nick Landesberg went close with his headed attempt just looping over the bar from a Will Beresford corner. Zac Rose, playing as an attacking right-back, worked his way to the Eagles box and was scythed down only for the referee to give a free-kick on the edge despite the claims of the Lions players that the foul was well inside the box. Five minutes later Eagles broke the deadlock with Rose muscled off the ball leaving Ruben Rabstein with no chance as the Eagles forward powered his effort into the goal and gave Letchwoth a 1-0 lead. This took the edge off the Lions team and Eagles went close again and only a great save from Rabstein kept Lions in the match. But with just five minutes remaining before half-time Letchworth doubled their lead with Eagles player unmarked at the far post from the in swinging corner. Lions came out with their tails up and the wind assisting. Charlie Kasler went close with his free-kick just going past the post and on the hour Eagles player handled the ball in his own penalty area only for the referee to ignore his assistant who had flagged the offence and continue with play, despite strong appeals from the Lions team. Adam Burchill, Adam Abadi and Nathan Schindler replaced Austin Lipman, Josh Pistol and Rose as Lions threw everything at Letchworth. Max Kyte and Josh Kennet moved up front to join Gershfield and the last 15 minutes and Eagles started to feel the pressure. Gershfield halved the deficit with a great finish with five minutes remaining Lions were unable to get the equaliser that they probably deserved and the team will be left thinking what would have been the result had either or both of the penalty shouts been given. They travel to the same venue next week with the same opponents in the Anagram Trophy but they will be hoping for a different result and a stronger performance will be required to get a victory.