HERTS COUNTY VETS CUP LAST 16
WELWYN SPORTS 1 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 4
Lions made the journey up the A1 where they found a good playing surface and decent opposition waiting for them in this Herts County Cup tie. But having ridden an uncomfortable period in the first half the Lions old boys eventually proved too strong and made it through to the quarter-finals.
Early pressure form the visitors almost brought reward as good play from Paul Lenchner saw an effort narrowly off target before Dan Stanton brought a superb low save from the impressive Welwyn keeper.
Stanton though wasn’t to be denied for long, a drop of the shoulder giving him a yard and his finish was emphatic.
The hosts however had some decent players and a great deal of energy, and their closing down forced the odd error from the Lions backline, errors that saw Welwyn twice get in behind one to see their strikes at goal hit the woodwork. Let-offs for Lions.
But there was no such luck on the half hour. A Lions corner was played to Max Radford on the edge of the area, but he turned into trouble and was dispossessed. In a flash the ball was helped forward, the Welwyn striker, although forced wide, struck sweet shot that arrowed into the bottom corner to level things up.
Lions had chances to regain the lead, the best of which fell to Lenchner, but from Tony Gold’s fine ball in his header failed to trouble the keeper. Lee Cash, Alex Levack and Paul Linger will also think they could have done better on occasion.
The half-time gee-up however saw Lions start strongly again in the second period, and with the wind now against them Welwyn found it that bit harder to play their long diagonal balls in behind.
The Lions pressure was building, and a great team move saw the visitors deservedly re-take the lead with Lenchner on the end of Cash’s ball in. And within five minutes they led 3-1, Glass’ long ball forward was flicked on by Stanton into the path of Cash who burst clear before rifling home a cracking finish.
Lions were really on top now, Welwyn certainly hampered by a couple of injuries. Mark Wagman came on on the right and his energy and running created some decent opportunities, but he, Silver and Stanton all passed up good openings.
But the fourth goal did come and what a belter it was, Linger with the sweetest of strikes from 25 yards that the keeper could but admire as it sailed past him.
Back-to-back league games coming up now for the team before a return to cup cation at the end of the month.
LIONS: Brad Lee, Jon Rayner, Tony Gold, Paul Linger, Rob Glass, Alex Levack, Matt Kleinman, Dan Stanton, Paul Lenchner, Max Radford, Lee Cash. Subs: Hadley Silver, Mark Wagman
SCORERS: Linger, Stanton, Lenchner, Cash
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Lenchner