Lions Vets gifts Garston three points

It was the hosts though who were shading things, and they deservedly took the lead with a fabulous goal. Craig Henry broke up a Garston attack and fed a firm low ball to the feet of Craig Pearl 10 yards outside the Garston box. A great turn saw him advance goalwards, quick feet sold a dummy to two covering defenders and a fierce strike from the penalty spot fizzed into the net.

Garston responded well, Brad Lee in the Lions goal made a fine block with his legs as the visitors sprung the offside trap. But on the half hour a spell of Garston pressure was rewarded with an excellent team goal of their own, the striker's bullet header reward for a fine turn and cross supplied by his partner.

Garston fashioned an early chance in the second half, but Jon Rayner's brilliant goaline clearance kept them at bay, and from then on it really was the home side asking all the questions.

Adam Myeroff, Henry, Rayner, Pete Lazard and Marc Greene were commanding at the back, while Matty Kleinman and Alex Levack began to get the hosts on top in the central areas. And from this solid base they had their chances. Played in by Scott Levy, Pearl crashed in an effort that skimmed the bar before Kleinman's far post header went narrowly over. Paul Lenchner couldn't quite connect with Adam Kaye's cross, while three free-kicks from promising positions were wasted as the Garston keeper wasn't tested.

But then the big chance. Pearl again burst into the box, this time though electing to pass rather than shoot. Although a little behind him, Levy managed to get the ball under and dinked it over the onrushing keeper only for the covering defender to get back on the line to exact a clearance.

It was really almost all Lions ... but then disaster struck. Lee received a routine backpass with plenty of time. Having delayed, the forward closed him down, but a neat sidestep bought him time again, only for him to mis-place his pass straight to Garston front man who took a touch before rolling the present into the unguarded net - a hammer blow.

Lions threw everything forward, but in those last few minutes were unable to fashion anything clear cut. And the bad luck was compounded in the dying seconds when top scorer Lenchner, in stretching for a ball, tore his hamstring, an injury that will see him join his strike partner Lazarus on the sidelines for the upcoming games.

Although a disappointing result it was a positive performance, and it's knowledge that they competed and, at times dominated, one of the top sides that they need to take forward.

LIONS: Brad Lee, Adam Myeroff, Craig Henry, Jon Rayner, Marc Greene (sub: Pete Lazard), Matty Kleinman, Alex Levack, Craig Pearl, Danny Reuben (sub: Scott Levy), Adam Kaye (sub: Max Radford), Paul Lenchner

Scorer: Craig Pearl

Man-of-the-match: Alex Levack