Another game, another defeat…but are the London Lions downhearted? No chance.

Andy Landesberg’s team went down 1-0 at home to Hadley at the weekend, but though they remain firmly fixed at the bottom of the Spartan Midlands League Premier Division with just six points after 24 games and only one win, there is no despondency in the club as they enter a new year.

"The way things are going is actually very encouraging," said Landesberg.

"We are a fielding a very young team with an average age of 20 and they are doing really well against high-quality opposition in this league. Yes, losing matches now is always painful, but when I look to the future I feel very upbeat and positive.

"Nobody here is giving any thoughts to relegation. We still have plenty of games to go to the end of the season and we just look to the next game each time and how we can improve.

"We are playing some really good football in patches and from what I have seen it is a very high standard."

Lions have a chance to clinch a morale-boosting win in their next fixture on January 11 at home against Hatfield, who are just one place above them in the table.

Once again, a silly mistake cost Lions, but Landesberg was still delighted with the overall performance,
picking out keeper Jake Doffman and skipper Guy Morris for special mentions.

"Guy is leading the team like he is on a mission and they all look determined to succeed, nobody’s head is dropping. We feel we are moving up a few percentage points every game and when I think ahead to four or five years time, I realise how good this team is going to be," he said.

Report by Lawrie Hacker