A hat-trick from Sam Martin capped a polished display as London Maccabi Lions Under 11s thumped Herons’ 5-1 in the Watford Friendly League Red Division.

The Lions were quick out the blocks and had some early possession with some slick midfield mêlées.

They opened the scoring after 11 minutes when Joseph Gale picked up the ball, shimmied and fired home majestically into the top corner.

Man of the Match Jack Mattey was a master in midfield and pulled all the strings alongside Oscar Cohen, Matt Stern and Ben Fenton.

Herons levelled with a rate attack on 28 minutes. From a corner, they scuffed the ball home from close range to tie the scores at 1-1.

The Lions came out on the prowl in the second half and Sam Martin transformed the game in 11 second half minutes with a superb hat-trick. The first was a great curler from 10 yards which flew passed the keeper for a 2-1 lead. The second was from a great Mattey through ball and run into the Herons half being pursued by three defenders and a cute chip over the keeper, to make the score 3-1.

The hat-trick goal was a close range shot from a corner which flew home much for a 4-1 Lions lead.

The Lions confidence swelled and the slick passing ensued. Matt Stern went close from a few yards and Adam Freedman’s skill illuminated the midfield.

With time running out, Josh Burns picked up the ball after some slick midfield passing and fired home a great swerving shot to make the score 5-1 to cap what had been a great display from the Lions in the Watford League’s top Division.