CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP
FC TEAM A 2 MACCABI LONDON LIONS B 3 (After extra-time)

An extra-time strike from Charlie Cohen helped Lions B cause the upset of the round against Premier Division FC Team.

A sunny Sunday morning as Lions headed to Northwood to play FC Team A in the Cyril Anekstein Cup. Lions knew coming away to play a team in the top-flight would be very tough but they were up for the fight.

The game started fairly evenly with both sides playing some nice football and neither goalkeeper having too much to do.

Lions were playing the ball nicely tiring out FC Team as they only had 11 men on the day.

However, the first goal broke to FC Team via their main weapon. A long throw flew in and a simple flick-on resulted in a scrappy goal to put FC Team A 1-0 up.

As the first half went on Lions continued to have the majority of possession and all the chances with Michael Kenley and Sammy Kingston both going close on free-kicks and Adam Abadi with a superb diving header going close too.

But the equaliser came from a corner, Ed Brafman flicked on for Abadi who couldn’t miss and slotted home from a few yards out.

Into the second half and FC Team A had been reduced to 10 men due to an injury to their keeper. Early on in the second half Lions had a corner swung in by Kingston and sprinting in back post was Zak Linden to head home to put lions 2-1 up.

Lions continued to play their football throughout the second half but couldn’t see out the game before full-time.

Much to Lions disappointment another long throw in late in the second half resulted in FC Team levelling the scores to take the game into extra-time.

Into extra-time and with 10 men FC Team did not look like they had much more to offer but Lions had to be focused and ensure they were solid at the back and took their chances.

And they certainly did both early in the first half. A long ball from Brafman through too Cohen who expertly chipped the goalkeeper to put Lions 3-2 up.

As the game was getting heated the FC Team striker lashed out and saw him sent off and FC Team reduced to nine mean for the second half.

Lions weren’t put under too much pressure late in the game and they saw the game out to head into the last eight.

Jubilant Lions boss Sam Marchant told JC Sport: "Facing opposition in the division above, we knew it would be a tough test. An unfortunate own goal from a long throw-in in the first minute meant we had our work cut out for us. We managed to find our way back into the game, taking control of the midfield.

"Fortunately for us, they were reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes due to an injury to their keeper and we knew the game was there for the taking. We made hard work of it but stayed patient trying to break down a very deep-lying defence.

"FC Team did superbly well to get the game to extra-time having 10 men for most of the game, but fortunately we got the result after a lovely ball from Brafman to Cohen who neatly chipped the keeper in extra-time.

"It was also important for us to get a result today coming off the back of two draws at home in the league.

"We are delighted to be in the quarter-final of this cup and we know start preparing for next week's away trip to Oakwood."