A Dean Nyman double helped London Lions boost their title hopes after beating Mill End Sports 2-1 in the Herts Senior County League Premier Division.
The Lions kept pressure on the top two by edging a tight contest to record their seventh away victory of the season. A tight contest in relation to the score but in truth Lions should have been out of sight with the chances created and not converted.
Mill End certainly didn’t play like a side bottom of the league and if they show the same desire for the rest of the season as they did against the Lions then they should move away from the danger zone.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to Adam Stolerman but he watched his 18-yard shot fly inches over the bar.
Mill End huffed and puffed and it was clear to all watching that the pitch played its part in making the game a real leveller. Lions though defended strongly with Guy Morris and Adam Myeroff making vital interceptions to clear serious danger.
Nyman showed what a good player he is by giving the Lions the lead with a very well-taken finish. Beating his marker, he surged into the box and let rip an unstoppable drive that flew past the keeper.
As half time approached the game should have been over as a contest as top-scorer Stolerman missed another good opportunity and Ben Lauffer shot wide when well placed.
Lions made the perfect start to the new half increasing their advantage as the game moved into the 55th minute. Nyman once again darted into the box and showed a composed head as he slotted the ball home.
Danny Cole was inches away from a third Lions goal after he had run onto a Tony
Gold through ball and hit an angled shot that beat the home keeper and just went wide of the far post.
Then with 20 minutes remaining Mill End pulled a goal back. Sloppy Lions defending gifted the home side a way back into the game and made the final minutes nervy. However, Lions held firm and came away with three very good points.
Lions manager Tony Gold said “The players always knew the importance of the game because in the past we have come unstuck in similar situations so today was a big result.
“We’re not out of it by any means, we’re still right in there. I’ve said all along it will be close but we must continue to win these kind of games.
“I thought in the main we controlled the first half and got the all important first goal which gave us something to fight for. We then started the second-half exceptionally well scoring again early. They then had to throw men forward and take chances to force the issue and got a goal back which meant we had to defend stoutly and manfully which we did.
“All in all we have shown a lot of good characteristics from this performance, good play and plenty of determination and character. These words are used all the time but without them you don’t win football matches.”
To get more from Life, click here to sign up for our free Life newsletter.