ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
JOHN RUBENS UNDER 16 CUP FINAL
Manchester Maccabi 1 London Maccabi Lions 4
Strikes from Jonny Daitz (2), Sammy Kingston and Jack Davis steered London Maccabi Lions to victory in the under-16 final as they beat Manchester Maccabi 4-1 to lift the John Rubens Cup at Salford FC.
Leo Berger put Manchester ahead on the stroke of half time, but the Lions stepped up a gear to win comfortably in the second half.
Lions boss Gavin Alexander said: “I’m delighted for the boys. We have never played in a national Maccabi tournament so to win is fantastic, especially with an under-15 team in an under-16 competition. It shows just how good a squad these Lions boys are.
“Jordan Freeman who was voted players player of the year took captaincy for the game, but it was a real team performance.
“We look forward to defending it again next year.”
Manchester manager Tony Gellman said: “It was literally a game of first halves but once they equalised the writing was on the wall.
“We had the wind in the first half but Lions are a very good team and deserved to win, even if the scoreline flattered them a little. Our boys competed exceptionally well against a physically stronger team.”