'Energetic' Lions too strong for leaders Sandridge

Yet it was a goal-bound block from Will Beresford from Sandridge striker Harry Booth, after keeper Dan Lee had been beaten, that kept Lions on level terms just before the break.

The second half started brightly with Lions continuing to play the better football and, with Andy Glynne pulling the strings deep in the middle of the park and Charlie Kasler finding the space and picking his passes, the chances kept on coming.

Lions young right-back Zac Rose after a great ball from Kennet found himself with just the keeper to beat but this and a series of great saves from Sandridge’s Keating kept the visitors goal intact yet again.

But 10 minutes after the break Lions eventually broke the stalemate with a great strike from AUSTIN LIPMAN, a slight deflection helping finally beat the outstanding Keating.

Usually this would mean that Lions step up a gear but Sandridge showed why they are table-toppers and showed great resilience and stopped Lions playing their normal quick passing play.

Sandridge went close and only a great block from Cohen and Sandridge strikers not hitting the target prevented the visitors from equalising.

With 20 to go Lions picked up the pace once more and Kyte was foiled once again by a great save from Keating but on 74 the Lions faithful were celebrating a Kennet goal, only for the referee to overrule the linesman and give a controversial offside decision.

Harry Hatchwell replaced the cramping Andy Glynne and within a minute CHARLIE KASLER made it 2 –0 with a neat finish in the six-yard box after great play by Kyte.

Kasler and Cohen were replaced by Josh Pistol and Adam Burchill but a far post header from Sandridge striker Reece May gave the visitors hope.

The Lions team however proved to be up to the task and kept Sandridge quiet and more importantly kept possession and played out the remainder of the game in a disciplined fashion.

The management team of Landesberg, Steve Grenfell and Darren Yarlett were delighted with the result and the overall performance but "would have preferred to have had converted some of the early chances that would have made the game less tense".

Lions Boss Andy Landesberg: "This was an great performance throughout - some of the lads haven't played for five weeks but the energy levels were excellent.

"My only criticism is that we only managed two goals - the first half was so one-sided we should have scored four or five.

"I thought Max Kyte probably had his best game of the season - his work-rate and all-round team play was fantastic.

"We now have our first midweek fixture on Wednesday evening against a tough Standon & Puckeridge side."

Lions now look forward to hosting league title favourites Standon and Puckeridge this Wednesday at 7.30pm for another massive game that may determine if they are going to be in the mix for the title at the end of the season.