WATFORD FRIENDLY LEAGUE UNDER 18 DIVISION
London Maccabi Lions 6 Gladstone 1

Lions maintained their treble charge with a 6-1 demolition of Gladstone in a game where Joshua Bloom and Charlie Rubin fired hat-tricks.

But it needed a fine display from keeper Dan Lipman who Lions boss Nicky Bloom named man-of-the-match after an "outstanding display" which featured a number of crucial saves, including one from the penalty spot.

The Lions scored some quality goals but only played well in patches and Bloom acknowledged "that with three games on the spin now against Limassol, we are going to have to play a lot better and more consistently if we are to prevail over them."

Taking the positives out of the result, Bloom went on to say: "A win is a win and this still keeps us very much in touch with the top of the table."

Lions were rewarded for an excellent start with a goal from Bloom produced a clever dinked finish onrushing keeper.

Rubin then claimed the first of his three goals with a rasping effort into the top corner. Bloom made it 3-0 following some good work from Jordan Marks on the left midway through the first half.

Lions appeared to take their foot off the gas and allowed Gladstone to come at them and it needed the reflexes of Lipman as well as the woodwork to take them into the break 3-0 up.

A half-time grilling from the management failed to lift the Lions at the start of the second half as Gladstone continued to press.

Lipman came to the rescue again after some sloppy defending led to a penalty for Gladstone, but the stopper got down sharply to his right to save the spot-kick.

Bloom was first to complete his hat-trick, and 27 goal of the season, with a header following a quality cross from Marks on the left.

And there was still time for Rubin to notch up his third with two more excellent strikes.