London Lions made it seven wins from their last nine games with another excellent away performance, beating Cockfosters 3-1.

Two Aron Barnes penalties and a single effort from David Soutar took Lions to 60 points and fifth place in the Molten Spartan South Midlands League Division One.

The visitors welcomed back Dean Nyman, Danny Berg and Shai Revivo with Ziggy Lichman replacing the injured Matt Davis in goal.

Tony Gold's men started well as Andy Glynne raced through after 40 seconds only to see his shot hit a post and then scrambled clear.

The tempo of the game was surprisingly high given the hot conditions and the fact that neither side was playing for anything other than pride.

Cockfosters looked lively going forward with their front two and two wide players always a threat but the Lions rearguard held firm and defended stoutly.

Ben Ellis had a couple of decent runs down the Lions left resulting in one seeing him scathed down by the opposition right-back which resulted in the offender receiving a yellow card.

Cockfosters took the lead aainst the run of play. Having several opportunities to clear the ball from danger, Lions failed and paid the price. The ball fell invitingly for the free Cockfosters player on the edge of the box and he drilled the ball past an outstretched and unsighted Lichman.

It would have been easy for the visitors to meander through the rest of the game but instead they rolled up their socks and once again took the game to Cockfosters.

Within 10 minutes Lions were level. Ellis once again muscled his way into space and broke free in the box. As he was about to pull the trigger his shirt was pulled and he was thrown off balance leaving the referee with no option but to award a spot kick.

Barnes, who missed his previous penalty kick, placed the kick into the corner of the net.

The half came to an end with both sides welcoming an opportunity to hydrate and reflect on a decent 45 minutes especially given the rock hard pitch.

Lions arguably put up one of their best defensive half's of the season with Lichman, Guy Morris and Tony Gold catching the eye.

Nyman led the Lions attack excellently, showing great energy and tenacity, and at times, ran the Cockfosters back line ragged.

Soutar who has been in a rich vein of form was also putting in another fine display in the centre of the park aptly supported by Daniel Stanton and Barnes.

Lions came close to taking a deserved lead on 60 minutes but Gold's free-kick hit the bar. The pressure finally told as the visitors forget in front when the referee awarded another penalty after Ellis was brought down by the Cockfosters keeper. Barnes once again stepped up and coolly placed the spot kick the other way to score his second of the afternoon.

The game was finely balanced going into the final 20 minutes. Andy Glynne was forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced by Ben Lauffer and Ellis, who had run himself into the ground, was given a rest and replaced by Shai Revivo.

With 15 minutes remaining, Lions wrapped up proceedings with the goal of the day. Gold burst forward from left-back, going on a mazy run before playing a defence-splitting ball into the path of Stanton. Stanton's quick feet and passing ability found Soutar who took one touch to get the ball out of his feet and another to exquisitely place the ball past the keeper into the goal.

Summing up, coach Darren Yarlett said: "It was lovely to come back to one of my old clubs. I had many happy memories here. I was quite nervous before the game so went on a 10-mile run just to relax a couple of hours before the game.

"The team settled well today but I have to say the pitch has deteriorated greatly since I used to grace the hallow turf.

"I don't usually single out individuals but I thought Ben Ellis did well today with his aggressive running and I was impressed with Ziggy in our goal.

"But I have to say I thought our manager put in an all round display of quality at left back not bad for an old git in his 40th year."