ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Potter Bar Charity Cup
London Lions 0 Cuffley 1
An unfortunate lapse of concentration at a set-piece, a lack of composure in front of goal and not having any lady luck of their side were all the components compounded together as the Lions lost 1-0 to Cuffley in the Potters Bar Charity Cup.
The Lions played some lovely football at times and were the better side for vast periods of the game but just couldn't turn the excellent possession they had into goals.
Lee Cash, Dominique Cheniart and Adam Stolerman all looked lively and threatened when ever they were on the ball in forward positions but as they drove forward in the final third the composure seemed to desert them.
With Avi Schwarz, Danny Castle and Sam Reeves competing well in midfield and dominating supported by a solid back four of Adam Lauffer, Adam Myeroff, Eddie Manson and Tony Gold it seemed only a matter of time before the home side would take the lead. However, on the stroke of half-time the Lions fell a goal behind unable to deal with a corner which was headed home unchallenged and in the end it proved decisive.
The Lions continued to take the game to Cuffley and were very nearly rewarded with an equaliser from a Manson header following a Schwarz corner, but somehow the Cuffley keeper managed to dive full length and tip the ball onto the bar watching the ball go out for another corner.
Stolerman then drove a fierce shot into the keeper which he did well to hold and Cheniart shot narrowly wide after a mazy run but still the ball couldn't find the Cuffley net.
On the rare occasions Cuffley did get forward the Lions back four held firm defending stoutly and clearing all potential danger.
All in all it was another good team performance with some really good football played and it will hold the team in good stead for Saturday's first league game of the season where the result really matters.
Lions: Rob Abrahams, Eddie Manson, Adam Myeroff, Adam Lauffer, Tony Gold, Sam Reeves (sub: Ben Lauffer), Aviel Schwarz, Daniel Castle (sub: Max Fieldgrass), Dominic Cheniart, Lee Cash, Adam Stolerman (sub: Ben Lampert). Sub not used: Scott Kay
Man of the match: Manson