GARSTON VETS LEAGUE
MACCABI LONDON LIONS 2 GARSTON 2
Strikes from Saul Conway and Paul Lenchner ensured Maccabi London Lions a share of the spoils against Garston in the Vets League.
Under the lights on a cold night at Rowley Lane, the veterans sides of both Lions and Garston demonstrated all that is great about football at this level as they played out this high-quality draw.
Defensively Lions were on it from the start – Andy Myers and Joel Berg excelling throughout, well supported by Tony Gold and Dan Reuben, the latter slotting in superbly in unfamiliar territory. Rob Glass provided the midfield base, Danny Daggers, Craig Pearl, Hadley Silver and Brad Lazarus the guile and Conway initially ran his heart out up top. He was a real thorn, forcing errors from which he almost capitalised, his curling shot on the run flying inches wide.
Garston are not perennial champions for nothing, boasting a quality of player that is a privilege to play against. However, it was somewhat against the run of play when the took the lead. Although more than a hint of off-side about it, the quality of the ball in and the stunning volleyed finish were deserved of the goal.
Buoyed by this the visitors looked to press home their advantage, but stoic defending kept them at bay and, slowly but surely, Daggers, Glass and substitute Scott Levy got Lions back into the game. With half an hour on the clock Lions fashioned an equaliser, and it too was a goal of the highest order. Pearl crunched a tackle and came out with the ball, and, spotting Lazarus’ clever run played in a delightful ball. The skipper rose to guide back a header into the path of Conway who slapped home an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net.
With half-time approaching it was Lions who had a spring in their step as they pressed Garston back. Silver broke clear, but with Lenchner busting his all to make the box he chose to shoot rather than square and was narrowly off target.
Gold was next to have the chance to find Lenchner, but his cross on the run was intercepted just before finding its mark and the sides went in all square.
Dan Jacobs shuffled his pack at the interval in an effort to keep the side fresh, Garston doing likewise. To be fair, it was the visitors who took control in the early stages, but both sides showed great endeavour. There was lots of fine interplay but the defences were on top, neither side coming all that close to making the breakthrough.
With the game entering the final quarter so it began to open up a little, Lions indebted to Brad Lee in their goal for a brave block as he threw himself in front of a loose ball. With 15 minutes left Garston though managed to forge ahead. Penning Lions back they worked the opening well, the ball eventually pulled back to be slotted home from 12 yards by their on-rushing player.
It was time for a gamble, Lions going three at the back and four up front. That of course left gaps, but both Berg and Myers played it with great skill and the utter determination not to allow what would have been a killer third goal.
The side knew they would get chances – Conway dipping a shot just over, Lenchner just off target with a header and Pearl seeing a goal bound shot bravely blocked. With time running out though Gold won the ball and fed Conway who darted at the full-back before slipping in Pearl. On the run he clipped the ball across goal, inside the centre half, Lenchner showing great strength to hold off his marker and ensure he fired home expertly on the stretch. Another fine team goal and one that was greeted with great joy in the Lions camp.
There was however still time for a heart in the mouth moment as a Garston corner was met with a thumping header, but Lazarus exacted a miraculous goal-line clearance and, with the final whistle blowing as Gold started the counter attack both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils – about right.
The over-40’s group travel to Polytechnic on Saturday for their AFA semi-final while the side take on Southgate in the league under the lights next Wednesday.
