Lions U18’s claim historic title win
Watford Friendly League U18 Div
London Lions 6 Panathinaikos 3
Sunday, 19 May, 2013
The Holy Grail of winning the top division of the u18 Watford Friendly League was finally achieved by a talented u18 London Lions side, as they secured the title in dramatic fashion.
Entering the final day the league, any one of four sides could have ended the day as champions in what was the climax of an incredibly competitive season.
Needing a win from their final match against Panathinaikos to guarantee at least a share of the title, the largest crowd of the season stood in anticipation on the touchline at Rowley Lane as the teams took to the pitch.
Lions started cautiously with good possession but with few chances created, the relief around the ground was palpable as Michael Kenley netted to give Lions the lead after 15 minutes
A trademark curler from outside the area soon followed from Adam Arnold and Lions went comfortably 3-0 up on the half hour mark with a sizzling shot from Stanley Offord which the Panathinaikos keeper was unable to keep out.
Lions then switched off and for a ten minute spell Panathinaikos took control with Sam Greenberg having to work hard in goal to allow Lions to maintain the lead.
However, an intricate move from the left flank and a decisive finish from the Panathinaikos striker, pulled the score back to 3-1, before Adam Arnold found the net again with a low driving shot from the edge of the area to take the score to 4-1 at half-time.
The game seemed all but over ten minutes into the second half when Arnold bagged his hat trick to push Lions into a 5-1 lead, only for keeper Greenberg to have to leave the field with a hand injury following a reflex save. Ben Halmer took over in goal and with Panathinaikos throwing caution to the wind, two consecutive goals brought the score back to 5-3.
With 20 minutes still left to play, Lions supporters were feeling decidedly less comfortable until man of the match Arnold spotted the Panathinaikos goalkeeper off his line to chip him from 25 yards to seal a 6-3 victory.
As the final whistle sounded, Lions players and supporters celebrated as captain Levi Levenfiche led his players off the pitch in the knowledge that history had been made at the club to the sound of popping champagne corks and the traditional euphoric chanting of ‘Championes’.
A mile or so down the road Borehamwood Youth were simultaneously battling with Alexandra Park East and by narrowly winning that match with the odd goal in five, they were able to match Lions’ points tally for the season ensuring that the league title would be shared between the two clubs
This match marked a fitting and emotional end to an incredible journey for the squad, with a number of players having made over 200 appearances in a Lions shirt since starting out as U8s, and from which six players will be representing the Maccabi GB team at u18 level in Israel this summer.
Back row: Ben Halmer, Zak Skry, Sam Greenberg, Michael Kenley, Sami Zerovabeli, Casey Sharpe, Stanley Offord, Josh Curtis, Rob Cohen
Front row: Daniel Nikolopulos, Adam Arnold, Boaz Goldwater, Levi Levenfiche(c), David Seitler
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
