HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

LONDON LIONS 4 BOVINGDON 1

Hat-trick hero Gershfield looks a certainty to break the club record for number of goals in a season, amassing 38 in just 22 games this season so far – meaning an incredible strike-rate of a goal every 52 minutes as he also looks to reach the 100-goal mark for the club.

His finishing provided the difference in an always difficult away fixture, as Lions set out to avenge their 5-2 defeat at the Lane back in January.

The opening goal came from the penalty spot as midfielder Austin Lipman was fouled in the box; Gershfield made no mistake from the resulting kick.

The game remained evenly poised and the visitors were grateful for Jake Lewis in the Lions net as he made a couple of key stops.

Once again the midfield three of Jake Furman, Harry Hatchwell and Lipman provided the perfect balance and were the platform for everything good about Lions play, while Nick Landesberg kept the spine of the team string from the back.

Lions and Gershfield put Bovingdon to the sword after the break, another impressive display from Adam Burchell saw him set up Gershfield for 2-0 and this was closely followed by the striker’s third of the day when Furman’s shot found its way into his path and effectively finish the game.

There was still time for more action as Bovingdon earned a consolation when Lions defender Ben Goldberg netted an own goal, but the three-goal cushion was restored late on when Lipman’s shot was saved into the path of Max Kyte, and the Lions man finished to make it 4-1.

With closest rivals Belstone losing at Cuffley, Lions will aim to be champions at the earliest possible opportunity.

Lions manager Andy Landesberg said: "Not only was Gersh's finishing superb, his all-round play was immense today. He was right on it and his goal ratio is nothing short of phenomenal.

"We've had a tricky run of games where we could have dropped points, but have coming through in some style. And we'll take on the next run of matches with the same attitude."

LIONS: Jake Lewis, Rocky Spitzer, Charlie Rubin, Ben Goldberg, Nick Landesberg, Harry Hatchwell, Adam Burchell, Jake Furman, James Gershfield, Austin Lipman, Josh Kennet. Subs: Zac Rose, Adam Arnold, Max Kyte

SCORERS: Gershfield (3), Kyte