HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

LONDON LIONS 5 SANDRIDGE ROVERS 1

Indeed manager Andy Landesberg described it "one of the best performances of the season" as the Lions extended their lead at the top of the HSCL.

Early exchanges were even as the visitors showed some threat to Jake Lewis’s goal with some awkward crosses from wide. But Lions were in the mood and showed they are not a team to be easily knocked off course as the game became increasingly competitive.

Lions forged ahead on 17 minutes when Adam Lipman fed Josh Kennet whose low shot coud only be parried into the path of Adam Burchell and the lively Lions winger opened the score with a deserved goal.

Sandridge looked to level and looked dangerous from wide positions, and with the game turning into a real contest it took Lions another 15 minutes of hard work to force another goal and give themselves a cushion when Charlie Rubin’s corner was forced in by Nick Landesberg – the defender netting only his second goal in over 80 first team appearances.

The visitors were not to be thrown off just yet and responded quickly, when a neat break down the right saw a cross beautifully delivered low and hard to be finished expertly by the Sandridge striker to make it 2-1 and open the potential of a comeback.

Moments before half-time, Lions restored the two-goal margin when again a cut back from the right opened the way for James Gershfield to nod home for 3-1.

After the break Lions never threatened to let go of their lead, indeed Sandridge were stretched to contain the blues as the retained possession well. A fourth goal inevitably came when a tiring Rovers gifted the ball to the excellent Austin Lipman 18 yards out and he showed his pedigree, returning a wonderful flighted shot into the top corner.

Lions had saved the best until last with a fine team goal wrapping up the scoring, with both Lipmans and Kennet combining for a swift passing move through the lines to free Gershfield whose first time dink over the keeper added the gloss to a wonderful piece of play, and make it 35 goals in a lethal season for the Lions number nine.

There was almost six when the industrious Jake Furman forced a fine save with a spectacular volley but that would have been harsh on the visitors who maintained a competitive edge until the end.

Lions now face another tough away game at Bovingdon on Saturday – the only side to beat Lions in the league this season – as they look to wrap up the title in quick time.

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

SCORERS: Burchell, Landesberg, Gershfield (2), Lipman