SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

LONDON LIONS 3 BEDFORD 3

Despite missing a number of regulars, the strength in depth of the club was shown on Saturday afternoon with manager Andy Landesberg able to put out a more than competitive side that mixed youthful energy with a healthy dose of experience.

Bedford hardly had a kick for the first 20 minutes, with Dan Lee in the Lions goal a total spectator.  So when Adam Arnold cut inside and passed a superb finish into the bottom corner to give the hosts a deserved lead it looked to be a case of how many. But then the game had a mad 15 minutes as it approached the interval that no-one saw coming.  Lee was beaten to a ball into box, as it looped up the Bedford No. 9 headed it into the unguarded net to equalise.

And barely a minute later a wide free-kick was flicked on and found its way into far corner to give Bedford a lead with what were literally their first two forays into Lions territory.

Parity was restored though with 40 minutes on the clock – a long ball should have been collected by the Bedford keeper, but as he hesitated young Sam Hamerton did brilliantly to nick the ball past him and, on the run just keeping it in play he delivered a superb ball across the face of goal that presented the simplest of finishes to the onrushing Adam Burchell.

That should really have settled Lions down, but on the stroke of half time the Bedford striker was given time and space to get a shot away that went through Lee and incredibly gave the visitors the lead at the break.

With the advantage Bedford settled down, and at the start of the half they got in behind the Lions backline on a couple of occasions, but thankfully for the hosts the final cross or shot never troubled Lee.

And with this Lions got a footing back in the game. With Glynne now on the pitch the side had some added drive, and with space opening up it was the hosts who began to threaten again as the game offered untaken chances at both ends.

With the clock counting down Lions won a wide free kick that Alex Levack delivered. The ball bounced in box, the keeper hesitated but Lipman didn’t, rising to nod home and tie the game.

Both sides would have loved a winner but equally both now seemed content with a point, the late drama therefore reserved for last minute red card, goal-scoring hero Lipman given his marching orders for a clumsy challenge.

Given the absentees, Lions manager Andy Landesberg was satisfied to be putting another point on the board, and a point those who had served the club so well on the day certainly deserved.

LIONS: Dan Lee, Alex Taylor, Jon Ellis, Adam Lipman, Jake Rinsler, Rob Glass, Sam Hamerton, Alex Levack, Adam Arnold, Lee Cash, Adam Burchell. Subs: Andy Glynne, Jamie Jackson

SCORERS: Arnold, Burchell, Lipman