MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION

MACCABI LONDON LIONS BLUE 4 MACCABI LONDON LIONS WHITE 1

The mercurial Benji Weinberger fired the newly-promoted Blues ahead when his wickedly curling corner defied Whites' Mexican keeper David Sacal and flew straight into the net.

Akiva Levin hauled the Whites level but Josh Bloom ensured the hosts went into the break ahead with an ice-cool finish.

Second-half strikes from Jono Gaon and super-sub Charlie Cohen secured the points to hand Cyril Anekstein Cup winners Lions Whites a second consecutive defeat.

Jubilant Blues boss Sam Marchant told JC Sport: "We knew today was going to be a tough game facing the other Lions side and we had to be at our best.

"The early goal, direct from a Weinberger corner helped settle any nerves, but we were under a lot of pressure for the first 30 minutes.

"We dug deep and handled the opposition extremely well, and although we did succumb to the pressure around the 30-minute mark, Bloom later put us in the lead before half-time.

"We felt as though Lions White couldn’t keep up their high-pressure game and the game opened up for us in the second half allowing Gaon and Cohen to finish the game off. "We are very happy with how things went today and we need to perform at this level and higher every game this season as we know every week is effectively a cup final if we are to have a successful season."

Lions White manager James Gershfield told JC Sport: "Another disappointing result but again I saw positives going forward at times. We were on top for the majority of the first half and could have been 3/4-1 up at half time but we didn't take our chances.

"They scored (to make it 2-1) just before the break which was disappointing. We started the second half positively but silly mistakes at the back ultimately cost us again and we travel to Raiders next weekend in a MUST-win battle."

LIONS BLUE: James Harpin, Adam Abadi, Nathan Anders, Edward Brafman (capt), Nick Barnett, Sammy Kingston, David Nezri, Benji Weinberger, Daniel Behar, Josh Bloom, Jono Gaon. Subs: Cohen, Linden, Rose

GOALS Weinberger, Bloom, Gaon, Cohen

LIONS WHITE: David Sacal, Ryan Springer, Max Hassel, Alex Taylor, Mikey Perkins, Sam Argehabant, Richard Gold, Ben Lampert, Kiki Levin & Conor Perlmutter. Subs: Jordan Levy, Charlie Dryer, Jamie Cohen and Freddy Kramer

GOAL: Levin