By, Danny Caro
1 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
London Lions continued their recent good form with another dominating performance beating Stony Stratford Town 6-1 in the South Midlands League Division One.
Ben Ellis scored his first senior hat-trick with further goals from Adam Stolerman, Josh Kennet and Aron Barnes.
Missing several regulars, the Lions were able to introduce Ross Pincus into the squad alongside Andy Glynne who was back from injury. Michael Sacks deputised for Guy Morris.
The first 20 minutes of the game were scrappy and untidy as Stony huffed and puffed and Lions doing all they could to blow the house down. Eventually the visitors got into their stride and the football which they have been associated with started to come out in droves.
Josh Kennet and Ben Ellis proved dangerous threats all afternoon and they were influential in all Lions good attacking play. Adam Stolerman, who is slowly starting to find his fitness and form after a long period out, opened the scoring after a lovely flowing move. In-form Aron Barnes doubled the lead five minutes later before Ellis added a third just before half-time.
In the second half the Lions had to face exactly what Stony had endured all through the first-half a strong wind and blinding sun. Slow out of the block Lions failed to deal with a routine corner and Stony pulled a goal back with Sear heading home unopposed.
Having learnt valuable lessons in recent weeks Lions did not sit back and wait to see what happened next. Grabbing the initiative and finding their rhythm once more Lions broke quickly down the right and the excellent Kennet killed the game off with a well taken forth Lions goal.
The referee then awarded Stony a penalty after Adam Myeroff made a fantastic tackle in the box, somehow the official then deemed the player bouncing off the Lions defender actually being fouled. However, justice was served as Danny Berliner made a superb save from the spot-kick.
As the game wore on Lions introduced Pincus and Glynne for Stanton and Stolerman. Four soon became five as Ellis grabbed his second of the game before completing a well deserved hat-trick scoring a sixth just before the end.
Another useful three points as Lions finally seem to be adjusting to the pace and physicality of the league. After a fourth successive victory, manager Tony Gold said: “The lads are enjoying their football and the opportunities of playing new teams and at new grounds and I think resent results reflect that. We still have a lot of work to do in important areas on the pitch when we don’t have the ball but we are gradually learning to improve on those areas the more we play.”