BY MARC SUDHOLZ

Eastern Lions held strong to defeat a youthful Murray United outfit 2-0 in NPL 1 East at Gardiners’ Creek reserve on Sunday afternoon.

Goals from Munyazi Nyadzayo and Philip Ajao in either half were enough for the home side to seal the victory, despite the visitors threatening throughout.

Ajao had the first clear chance of the contest after only 5 minutes, cutting in from the left, beating two defenders, before shooting over the bar from 18 yards on his right.

Alex Eggleston and Zac Walker then combined for Murray, the latter turning in the box, before sending his shot wide of the far post.

Ajao forced the first save of the contest following a long free kick from Matthew Parry, the ball breaking to him before shooting straight at Ben Russell.

The breakthrough came after 15 minutes.

Murray turned the ball over on the halfway line, allowing the Lions to break, with Ajao flicking the ball to Nyadzayo, who controlled well, before finishing clinically past Russell to make it 1-0.

Nyadzayo then latched onto a pass from Ziggy Razuki three minutes later, before turning provider for Ajao, who put his shot over the bar.

Five minutes later, Walker forced Lightfoot into a good save to his left, after breaking into space in the box.

On 26 minutes, it was the same story, however this time Lightfoot had to get airborne to deny Walker’s snapshot.

The Lions’ keeper’ was then at the middle of a controversial non-decision, as he rushed out of his box to clear a long ball, but looked to handle the ball, in doing so preventing the oncoming Adam Waters from getting in behind. However, the referee called play-on.

The game was becoming a very open, end-to-end contest, exemplified on 36 minutes, as Darcy Pawlik saw his shot denied by Lightfoot, before Eastern counter-attacked, with Ajao sending a shot straight at Russell, despite having men open to his left.

On the stroke of half time, Shaun Kenny hit a stinging shot at Russell, but once again the Murray keeper’ was up to task.

The half time score was 1-0 to the home side, with both sides well in the contest.

The second half began a bit slower, with neither side wanting to concede.

It took 13 minutes for the first clear chance, with Nyadzayo guilty of fluffing his lines from just inside the box.

After 65 minutes, there was another controversial non-decision. Zac Walker appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area, but the referee waved away the appeals of the visitors.

Walker was looking dangerous, and with 20 minutes remaining slalomed brilliantly through the home side’s defence, but lacked the final finish, with his shot from 15 yards saved comfortably by Lightfoot.

Murray were made to pay for this four minutes later, as Ziggy Razuki picked out Philip Ajao, who finally made an opportunity count, blazing past Russell to double the advantage.

United continued to push despite this setback, with the Lions’ impressive custodian forced into another classy save, denying a Waters shot that looked destined for the top corner.

It wasn’t to be for Murray, who continued to push until the end, but to no avail, as they left empty-handed, the home side claiming all three points.

MATCH DETAILS

Eastern Lions XI: 1: Andrew LIGHTFOOT (GK), 3: Matthew PARRY, 4: Michael JONES, 5: Daniel RODRIGUES, 7: Ziggy RAZUKI (12: Cameron PAIN 88’), 8: Mitch BEAMISH (14: Jordan HORN 90’), 10: Philip AJAO, 11: Munyaradzi NYADZAYO (9: Louis RAZUKI 82’), 13: Jarran CLEAR, 15: Yianni TOUMANIDIS, 16: Shaun KENNY (C).

Unused Subs: 27: Robert HAVERCROFT (GK), 2: Jack DILLON.

Yellow Cards:Kenny 40’

Red Cards: None

Murray United XI: 21: Ben RUSSELL (GK), 11: Jayson FERGUSON, 16: Sean PYE, 12: Michael JESSUP (36: Shane ELLWOOD 83’), 23: Ben CHAFFEY, 5: Ashley DUNN, 15: Ryan GILES (C), 7: Zac WALKER, 29: Darcy PAWLIK (10: Kade RIXON 62’), 37: Alex EGGLESTON, 14: Adam WATERS

Unused Subs: 33: Alex WEST (GK) 19: Tom MORRISON, 18: Lionel MASLIDI.

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None