SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HARPENDEN TOWN 1 LONDON LIONS 0

On a night that was more conducive to kite flying, London Lions suffered an unfortunate 1-0 defeat at Harpenden Town in a poor spectacle where chances were at a premium.

The strong wind and poor pitch put paid to any kind of football being played. The game was scrappy at best, with both sides having no alternative but to revert to long-ball clearances. It certainly wasn't a game for the football purists as both sides battled away for a ball that spent 90 per cent of the time in the air.

Lions had the early initiative in the first 15 minutes with a strong wind in their favour, but they were unable to convert a couple of half chances that fell their way.

As against Southall and more recently Baldock Town, Lions fell behind against the run of play. The warning signs were there a few minutes earlier and failing to prevent another dangerous cross, the ball fell kindly to Harpenden's forward who clinically dispatched his shot past a diving Mark Brahams.

Lions worked hard and showed endeavour throughout the 90 minutes, but in truth they lacked the cutting edge and spark needed to work a way back into the game. The one player who had the key to unlock the door to a goal was Charlie Kasler, but the Harpenden keeper was a match to everything he tried.

The game descended into a poor footballing spectacle in the final 20 minutes with the ball spending more time off the pitch then on it. Not a game that will live long in the memory.

Lions boss Tony Gold said: "Horrendous weather conditions and a terrible pitch put paid to a game of football being played tonight. It was a completely lottery and in truth a complete waste of everyone's time.

"Once again, the lads that played tonight gave everything for the club, but we just don't seem to get any luck or the rub of the green in these kinds of games.

"We have eight games left and eventually a law of averages tell you that luck has to change."

LIONS: Mark Brahams, Bradley Lander, David Souter, Guy Morris, Will Beresford, Adam Hakimi, Adam Lipman, Jamie Nagioff, Charlie Kasler, Zac Rose, Max Kyte