SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE RESERVE DIVISION ONE
LONDON LIONS RESERVES 7 LANGFORD TOWN 1

A fluent Lions performance, their first for a while, and a return to goal-scoring form for skipper Nick Goodman, saw them record a comfortable three points with a thumping home win against Langford.

On Rowley Lane's immaculate surface Lions found their rhythm early on and asked questions of the visitors almost from the off.

With Frank Hyman and Kyle Bentwood continuing their own personal excellent form, and with the pace of David Cohen and Jake Gottlieb at full-back, Langford found it almost impossible to get a sight of Danny Berliner's goal in the opening exchanges. Ben Lauffer and Myles Beerman provided the solid platform with George Fierstone pulling the strings for the attacking trio of Daran Bern, Liron Mannie and Goodman.

Despite the possession, Lions were unable to find a way past the Langford keeper, saving expertly at the feet of Bern on one occasion before parrying a rasper from Goodman. The skipper then, after great work from Bern, thumped an effort against the bar. Thankfully he wasn't to be denied for long. Lauffer sent Mannie away who with great strength broke clear down the right before squaring for Goodman to sidefoot home a most welcome goal.

Fierstone then saw a shot deflected for a corner that he himself drove in, Goodman rising high to send a bullet header crashing past the keeper to double the lead.

Fierstone and Mannie then linked up twice in devastating fashion. A drilled through ball was pinpoint accurate, Mannie latching on, dancing round the keeper and finishing with aplomb. And his second and Lions' fourth came shortly before the break, this time a most delicious 1st time reverse flick from Fierstone into Mannie's path ended with the latter simply drilling the ball into the net from 18 yards.

Revivo came on at the interval and, after excellent work from the lively Bern, was on hand at the far post to rifle in. Revivo then turned provider, beating a man before clipping a delightful pass into the path of Goodman who completed his hat-trick with a trademark dink over the on rushing keeper.

It was almost one-way traffic. Goldberg came on for the tiring Beerman to make his debut at centre half, but it was at the other end where all the action was. Some decent goalkeeping and careless finishing all that prevented more goals, the crowd though treated to one more 10 minutes from time, Green's pace taking him clear before curling the ball into the far corner.

A clean sheet though evaded Lions with the very last kick of the game. Having made a stunning double save just moments earlier, Berliner was beaten when he and Hyman got in a muddle, the ball cannoning off the Lions centre half and into the net.

The Lions are in cup action away at Knebworth next weekend before they host league leaders Oxhey Jets on the October 27.

Lions Reserves: Danny Berliner, Frank Hyman, Kyle Bentwood, David Cohen, Jake Gottlieb (sub: Shai Revivo), Ben Lauffer, Myles Beerman (sub: Ben Goldberg), George Fierstone, Daran Bern (sub: Dan Green), Liron Mannie, Nick Goodman

Scorers: Nick Goodman (3), Liron Mannie (2), Shai Revivo, Dan Green