LONDON MACCABI LIONS A 3-1 HENDON UNITED A

Lions showed they are still contenders for the Premier Division title after a rusty-looking Hendon were put to the sword by Max Fieldgrass, Yoav Lebens and Mike Pearson.

An even opening half-hour saw Avidan Last, alone up front, shoot just wide for Hendon whilst Avi Schwarz’s curling shot was palmed away by Danny Berliner at the other end, before the Lions took the lead just before half-time. Fieldgrass received a through ball from Sam Arghebant and clipped past Berliner at his near post.

Hendon struggled without Greg Corin and Paul Bentley and Josh Lipman stood in at centre-half, which led to defensive uncertainty. Josh Bentley and Ari Last were outshone by Arghebant, Lebens and Fieldgrass as the match wore on and spaces started to open up.

The usually reliable Berliner was culpable for the second, when he only parried an Ollie Leslie shot straight to Lebens who tapped home on the hour.

The third stoked controversy when Lions striker Pearson cut in from the right and scored as the linesman flagged for offside. Dovid Korman’s late tap-in for Hendon United A was a mere consolation.

Lions boss Eilon Kennet is refusing to get carried away, and believes his side are just one of “five or six teams that can still win the title”. Hendon’s David Garbacz was frustrated with the referee’s decision to ignore the linesman’s flag. “Some of our defenders stopped playing so it was crucial. But I’m pleased we still came back into it afterwards.”

Lions: Adaki; Colman, Basger, Lazard, Lew; Fieldgrass, Arghebant, Leslie, Lebens; Pearson, Schwartz (sub: Morris). Subs not used: Graham, Ross, Ossack

Hendon: Berliner; Gilbert, Lipman, Rosenthal, Ben Ari (sub: Yishai Last); Ari Last, Josh Bentley (sub: Scorah), Dovid Korman, Motti Korman, Slavinsky, Avidan Last