Goodman Nick's the points for Lions reserves

The game was pretty even, both sides playing at great pace. In midfield no quarter was given - Newman combined well with Ross Pincus and Ben Joseph to keep Lions going, an effort which began to create chances. Kyte twice found himself in a race with the keeper, just failing to get the killer touch each time while Nick Goodman spurned two great chances of his own, blazing over when Newman's ball released him and then unable to get a shot on the turn on target.

Ampthill were more than playing their part, the directness of their front pair keeping Lions honest at the back, Gottlieb in particular rising to the task at hand. However, with 10 minutes to go the break, a loose pass from the left back surrendered possession. An early deep cross saw Blackman's attempted clearance slice across goal where Ampthill's No. 9 steadied himself before rifling a superb volley into the far corner.

Lions made three changes at the break, with Craig and Lipman brought on to support up front and Cameron Most coming on at the heart of the defence with Ellis pushing in to replace Pincus in midfield who was feeling the effects of a hefty challenge. A fast start was ordered and that was just what Lions got.

Immediately Craig took on his full back, his first cross just behind Goodman. Seconds later the two combined again, this time Craig's cross was blocked at the expense of a corner from which Joseph's delivery was met on the run by a quite brilliant Goodman header that flew into the net.

Lions were on a roll and within five minutes had completely turned the game on its head. Ellis won the ball and lofted a pass into the path of Joseph. Under pressure from the covering defender he showed great strength to hold him off and, from fully 30 yards, executed an outstanding lob with the outside of his boot for a goal that deserved to win any game.

However, Lions' became guilty of overplaying, and having worked so hard to get themselves ahead they shot themselves in the foot when a sloppy passage of play allowed Ampthill's man a ball to run onto into the box where Blackman's challenge was adjudged to have been a foul one - the resulting penalty was despatched with power and the scores were level.

The game was again in the balance, but Lions led again with 20 minutes remaining as Ellis' whipped in free kick volleyed home by Goodman.

The skipper should then have wrapped up the points when clean through, but allowed the keeper to save before Lipman, having done the hard work to wriggle free, sent a weak shot goalwards.

The hosts created other chances that they failed to take, but a mature defensive display protected their goal, keeper Lipman's only moment of concern came when he spilled a routine catch but then reacted superbly and with great bravery to pounce on the loose ball.

A pleasing win and really good second half performance that means Lions still have plenty to play for - all the management team could ask for coming into the final two months of the season.

Lions reserves: Daniel Lipman, Rob Blackman, Ross Pincus (sub: Cameron Most), Jake Gottlieb, Jon Ellis, Frank Hyman, Max Kyte (sub: Dan Lipman), Ben Joseph, Josh Newman, Nick Goodman, Conor Perlmutter (sub: Ollie Craig)

Man-of-the-match: Jon Ellis