London Lions were involved in a crazy 5-5 draw where they somehow let a three-goal lead slip away in the last 15 minutes of the match against Bovingdon in the Herts Senior County League Premier DIvision.
Opponents Bovingdon arrived at Rowley Lane two points behind the home side but with a game in hand, so avoiding defeat was the main aim of the day, what unfolded was truly remarkable.
The game started with the away side looking the more threatening and carving out a couple of half chances. Lions were making hard work of the opening exchanges but started to turn the screw which resulted in them taking the lead. Josh Kennet’s out-swinging corner was half cleared to the edge of the box where Charlie Kasler smashed a right footed shot into the corner of the net.
The Lions doubled their lead five minutes later. Harry Hatchwell picked the ball up just inside Bovingdon’s half and played a ball out to Kennet on the left-hand side. Kennet played a beautiful inswinging cross for James Gershfield to pull off his marker and slide home.
Just before the break Lions had an opportunity to further extend the lead when the lively Kennet received the ball on halfway, drove at the right back which left himself one-on-one with the keeper but narrowly dragged his shot wide of the post.
The second half got underway, Lions now showing real intent with Lipman fizzing a shot wide, however within 10 minutes and against the run of play Bovingdon pulled a goal back from a corner which was headed home from six yards to make it 2-1.
The goal was the wake up call for Lions who immediately went up the other end to make it 3-1.Kennet broke down the left and squared the ball across the six yard box for Gershfield to score his second of the game 3-1.
The fourth soon followed after Lions won a corner which was swung in by Kennet and recent signing Austin Lipman glanced in a header, 4-1. Substitutions were made – Zac Rose replaced Will Beresford and Jake Furman replaced Hatchwell.
Even at 4-1 Bovingdon felt they were still in the game and pulled a goal back to make it 4-2 after sloppy play from Rose.
Lions then made it 5-2 after good work between Kasler and Lipman saw the later’s strike cannon off the back of a defenders head and loop over the keeper into the net for an own goal.
Lions were then punished again after Furman was wasteful in possession which enabled Bovingdon the capitalise on his error and score 5-3, Bovingdon could smell blood and scored another soon after for 5-4.
With three minutes remaining were awarded a penalty after Rose brought down the forward in the box. Rose was booked by the referee. Bovingdon’s player got himself up and slotted the ball past Tray.
In the dying moments Lions almost won it when a free kick was lofted into the box, David Soutar directed the header back across the box for Kennet to smash a left-footed volley against the crossbar.
Lions coach Darren Yarlett said: "Andy is unavailable to comment right now, you can work out why. I don’t think I have ever felt this angry after a game.
"The players know, every single one of them. It's not good enough, and it can’t happen again. Steve had some words with the lads. Sometimes players need a kick up the backside and know the last 20 minutes of the match cannot be tolerated.
"We always try to take the positives, so we earned a point, scored five goals and at times played some good football."