Bolle good show
HERTS CENT. TROPHY FINAL
LONDON LIONS 5 BELSTONE 1
FOOTBALL ANDY Landesberg insists London Lions’ cup triumph was a reward for the hard work and commitment of his team, on what was a memorable night for Adam Bolle.
The striker opened the scoring in a a tight first-half before running riot in the second half with another three on a night when everything he touched turned to goals.
Playing on an excellent surface at Hemel Hempstead FC, the Lions forged ahead on 39 minutes when Austin Lipman turned sharply before threading a delightful pass into the path of Bolle, who didn’t need to break stride before slotting the ball into the net.
Lions executed their game-plan to perfection with a ruthless second-half display. A free-flowing move resulted in a powerful left-footed finish by Bolle. The third goal quickly followed, after a penetrating run down the left by Bolle was crudely ended by a foul in the area. Bolle dusted himself down and fired the resultant penalty into the bottom corner.
Bolle was not finished there, and he broke free in the area again minutes later, before smashing a low drive in off the post to make it 4-0.
Lions did not take their foot off the accelerator and Austin Lipman drew a brilliant save from Connor Freeman with a 25-yard free-kick. From the corner, the ball was played to Levi Levenfiche who cracked home the fifth.
Belstone scored a consolation 10 minutes from time when Darren Turner’s penalty squeezed past David Myers, but that did not dampen the mood on another memorable night for the Lions who won the trophy for the second time in three years.
Lions boss Landesberg said: “The first-half performance wasn’t great. At half-time we asked the players if they trusted one another and to show that in the second half, and that’s exactly what they did. It was a joy to watch.
“The first goal was a relief but one goal is never enough against a team like Belstone. It was a great all-round performance on a pitch that allowed us to play and by the end you could see the gulf in standard between the teams.” Commenting on the performance of Bolle, Landesberg said: “Adam hadn’t been in the best of form leading up to the final, but I told him to just pull the trigger and his finishing was top-notch. I’m delighted for him. “This victory bodes well for the rest of the season. It’s also important for club and great for the community.”
Landesberg has challenged his players to win all their remaining league matches before their second cup final of the season, against Risborough Rangers at Leverstock Green FC on May 1.
He said: “The cups have been the glue that have kept everything together this season. There was a buzz in the air and a sparkle from the boys who put on a great show.”
LIONS: David Myers, Jake Rinsler, Lee Goldberg (sub: Max Kyte), Nick Landesberg (capt), Adam Lipman, Levi Levenfiche (sub: Adam Myeroff), Adam Arnold, Austin Lipman, Liron Mannie, Dan Creese, Adam Bolle. Subs: Nathan Bloohn, Adam Harvey, Reiss Mogilner