London Lions finished 2017 on a high after a thrilling second-half fightback overcame promotion-chasing rivals Enfield Borough at Rowley Lane to leave the club in a season-high third place in the table.
December 24, 2017 18:38
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
LONDON LIONS 4 ENFIELD TOWN 2
It didn’t look good after the first 45 minutes however, as Enfield’s impressive play had earned them a two-goal lead at the interval.
Firstly, a goal from a set-piece midway through the half was a deserved breakthrough after forcing James Harpin into a great save and also striking the bar just beforehand.
Lions came back into it and should have scored at least one of their own. Adam Bolle fired over and then slid one wide, as Charlie Kasler missed a couple of golden chances as well.
Lions had looked good at the back with Tom Smith making his debut in the middle and Jake Rinsler impressing at full-back, but a rare lapse saw Enfield steal the ball and double their lead on 45 minutes.
Lions were somehow able to regroup at the break and showed they have what it takes to make a real push for the Premier Division when they scored four goals in 30 devastating minutes.
The home team played with much better tempo after the break, playing more through the midfield, but it needed a scrappy goal on 60 minutes to start things off when Nick Landesberg nodded the ball in through a crowd.
On 78 minutes Lions were level when a wicked cross from Adam Myeroff from the left was powerfully headed in by an Enfield defender.
The spirited comeback was complete just three minutes later. Austin Lipman weaved his way to the byline before dinking a cross invitingly into the path of substitute Liron Mannie who dispatched a diving header into the roof of the net to send the crowd wild.
Lions had time for one more when Bolle got some reward for his shift up front, when he won the ball and fired powerfully through the ‘keepers hands on 90 minutes.
An important win and an impressive comeback was complete.
LIONS: James Harpin, Jake Rinsler, Adam Myeroff, Nick Landesberg, Adam Lipman, Tom Smith, Charlie Kasler, Jordan Marks, Austin Lipman, Adam Bolle, Adam Burchell. Subs: Liron Mannie
SCORERS: Bolle, Landesberg, Mannie, own goal