An exciting and fiercely contested first league game of the season saw London Lions lose out by the odd goal in five to last season's runners-up Southgate.
October 2, 2014 14:30GARSTON VETS LEAGUE
SOUTHGATE OLD BOYS 3 MACCABI LONDON LIONS VETS 2
An exciting and fiercely contested first league game of the season saw London Lions lose out by the odd goal in five to last season's runners-up Southgate.
A poor first half display saw the hosts fail to get into any sort of rhythm, and with possession gifted so cheaply to their opponents, found themselves on the back foot for the majority.
Despite this they surrendered few clear-cut openings, although from set pieces Southgate were a permanent threat with three or four players having inches over the Lions. It was from one such set play that they took a deserved lead when a header from close range was powered home by their influential forward.
Andy Myers, Pete Lazard, Jon Rayner and Tony Gold were working overtime, but the introduction of Craig Henry added some much needed steel in the centre while Scott Levy and Hadley Silver added some guile. The latter flashed a searing drive inches over the bar and when his next shot was deflected the resultant corner should have seen Lions level, Henry though failing to make proper contact from just a couple of yards of out, seeing his header glance wide. Next Levy fed Gideon Barnett, but Southgate's keeper takes great credit for a save but the Lions frontman will be disappointed not to have scored.
A more positive ending to the half no doubt, although this was soured just prior to the whistle when Myers and one of Southgate's players got into an altercation that saw both men sent from the field to cool off.
As the second half settled so did Lions. Danny Reuben, Henry, Craig Pearl and Levy all more influential now. Lenchner was deployed to cover at centre half, leaving Lazarus up front. And it was the skipper who levelled things up after a fine run and shot by Levy saw the ball parried into his path and he made no mistake.
Levy came close again and Lazarus curled one wide before, against the run of play, a failure to clear their lines saw Southgate presented an opening too good to turn down and they led again.
Yet almost from the kick off Lions levelled it up again, Pearl's precise through ball saw an exquisite Lazarus finish on the run with the outside of the boot.
Lions were on top and went searching for a winner but instead, with just a couple of minutes on the clock, failed to deal with a deep free-kick. Losing the first and second headers, the ball dropped kindly for Southgate's main man. Lee made an outstanding save to keep out his shot, but was powerless to stop the rebound finding the back of the net.
Try as they might there was no way back, although Levy twisted and turned to power in a shot that brought another terrific stop from the visitor's keeper that in effect secured them the points.
Lots to ponder for Lions, although a vastly improved second half display really should have led to them taking something from a game in which they contributed plenty.