WATFORD FRIENDLY LEAGUE UNDER-16 DIVISION
MACCABI LONDON LIONS 2 BELSTONE 4
Two goals from Alex Rose were not enough to earn Lions maximum points in a hard-fought contest against Belstone played under the floodlights at Rowley Lane.
Lions U16 were punished for too many basic defensive errors. Although they played some attractive football in the opening period, it was Belstone who took the lead halfway through the first half with a very well-taken goal from an incisive through ball.
Lions continued to play all the football and claimed a deserved equaliser after 35 minutes when after hitting the bar and having a shot saved off the line, Rose neatly volleyed into the bottom left hand corner of the net from six yards.
However, Lions failed to keep the scores level for more than five minutes. After giving away a needless free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, they didn’t challenge the resulting kick and the Belstone defender looped his header into the far corner.
The Lions struck back again just after half-time, with Rose registering his second of the game.
Yet again Lions couldn’t consolidate and try to build on their equaliser. From our throw-on, a mix-up between Sammy Letzer and Nathan Anders led to another free-kick on the edge of the area. The kick was swung in and flew past the excellent James Harpin and into the back of the net.
Lions pressed on in search of another deserved equaliser. They created a number of good chances but, as has been so often the case this season, couldn’t convert. Then in the last minute another defensive laps in concentration allowed Belstone to break away and score their fourth and game-killing goal.