GARSTON VETS LEAGUE INVITATIONAL CUP ROUND ONE
OLD PARMITERIANS 0 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 7

The holders secured safe passage into the second round of the prestigious Invitational Trophy with what ended up a comfortable victory away at Old Parmitarians.

Lions started the stronger, and with Jon Rayner, Adam Myeroff, Rob Glass and Adam Harvey solid at the back, it seemed a matter of time against an opposition who gave a lot but lacked the ability to support a lively front-runner.

Paul Lenchner, Max Radford and Brad Lazarus all had efforts, but the home keeper was in good form. But having kept Lions at bay for 25 minutes the breakthrough came, Lenchner guiding home a fine header from Lazarus’ cross.

OP reacted well and it took a superb flying save and one-on-one block from Brad Lee to keep the lead intact.

Soon after a marauding run from Glass was crudely ended, Lazarus clipping in a delightful ball from the free-kick, Lenchner affecting a superb flick header over the keeper for 2-0.

Danny Daggers had had a fine half and he was rewarded early in the second period when he stroked home the finish after a fine team move.

If the result wasn’t already secured it was within five more minutes when Lenchner completed his hat trick with close range finish.

It was then really a case of how many. Craig Pearl latched on to a Daggers pass before dinking over the keeper for number five and Harvey scored his first Lions goal and Lions’ sixth, nodding in from close range after a drilled effort from Andy Myers deflected onto and then back off the crossbar into his path.

Lenchner and Lazarus both spurned excellent opportunities before Lazarus completed the scoring, his long ranger squirming underneath the keeper and a 7-0 final scoreline.