Two goals from Lucas Schreiber saw Maccabi London Lions set up a semi-final showdown against HMH after putting Alexandra Park East to the sword with an impressive 5-0 victory.
March 15, 2016 13:16WATFORD FRIENDLY LEAGUE UNDER-13 CUP QUARTER-FINAL
ALEXANDRA PARK EAST 0 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 5
Two goals from Lucas Schreiber saw Maccabi London Lions set up a semi-final showdown against HMH after putting Alexandra Park East to the sword with an impressive 5-0 victory.
On FA Cup weekend, the danger of underestimating strong opposition from a lower league was not lost on the management as they prepared the team for a tough away fixture in the League Cup quarter-final away at Alexandra Park East.
APY East have won the majority of their matches this season and are leaders in the Blue Division and a very well organised outfit, with a number of players who would grace the Red division.
This Lions team has in past competitions come unstuck in similar situations but this current team have to date exceeded all expectations and yesterday was no exception.
A large, wide AND windswept pitch greeted the Lions with extended mud patches on the wings and long uneven grass. The perfect setting for a slip-up and the travelling supporters watched with slight trepidation as the opposition went through their extensive warm up drills.
The boys were encouraged to maintain their own game, to play their fast-paced expansive football and to defend with great caution against the free-scoring opposition.
Often instructions to junior teams can be disregarded by kick off but this Lions team have a huge willingness to learn and develop and to work for each other and from the kick off Lions proceeded to play a textbook performance.
The back four were disciplined and robust providing a platform for the midfield to press high up the pitch and to feed their dangerous forward players. The team knew that the longer the game remained in reach for APY, the longer they would have belief and promptly secured a 4-0 half-time winning margin with some beautifully executed goals.
Lucas Schreiber slotted the first away after a move that swept the pitch followed by Jake Jason and then Schreiber again from one of the many Lions’ corners.
The fourth goal shortly before half-time came after a Mikey Charney pass that was reminiscent of Michel Platini in his pomp from a time when he was more focused on collaboration with the likes of Giresse, Tigana and Rocheteau than his latter years with Blatter. Charney won the ball on the halfway line, saw a Daniel Misrahi run outside the left full back into the box, and curled the perfect ball over the defender to allow Misrahi not to break stride, collect the ball and slide the ball into the net…bravo indeed.
The second half was more even with APY defending in numbers to protect the scoreline and a solitary Joe Sher goal was added.
This was a very professional performance from a highly dedicated and talented group of boys who will now play HMH in the semi-final in April.