SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

BEDFORD 5 LONDON LIONS 2

After an even start, Bedford got on top, scoring a header from a corner after 15 minutes to open the score.

Matters got worse for Lions when they needlessly conceded possession on the edge of their area, a mishit shot from Bedford found its way through ‘keeper David Myers.

With the game seemingly going only one way, Lions responded superbly. The defence of Adam Myeroff, Jamie Jackson and Ben Goldberg were resolute while Adam Arnold, Adam Bolle and Charlie Kasler seemed to be linking up better.

And the visitors were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time when the front men linked up to find an opening for Kasler who swivelled and struck home a goal that breathed life into the game.

After the interval again it was Lions who looked the most threatening for a long period, and it was the busy Arnold pounced to equalise ten minutes in, smartly looping the keeper after Bedford had dangerously conceded possession.

The game was a full-on contest, and Lions were edging it. Bolle was causing all sorts of problems and Adam Lipman was excellent in the middle, with Christian Edwards and Austin Lipman putting in a great shift in unfamiliar wing-back roles.

The game turned with 15 minutes to go as Bedford made some positive changes from the bench and seemed to up the tempo. Lions were again undone when conceding the third – and fatal – goal from another corner; this time the header hit the woodwork only for the ball to go in after an almighty scramble.

As the deflated Lions pushed for another equaliser, they were open for two late and almost academic goals as Bedford rattled up a flattering scoreline.

Despite the five goals against, if Lions can tighten up from set pieces in particular, and play with that determination, the next win will not be far away.

This defeat came on the back of a 4-1 league loss at home to Rayners Lane.