SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
WInSLOW UNITED 1 LONDON LIONS 5
London Lions put a resurgent Winslow Unietd to the sword on Saturday with a fantastic 5-1 victory at Rowley Lane.
Winslow had picked up two very impressive wins against opposition that Lions only managed to take one point from, scoring nine goals in the process.
With virtually a new side and Winslow having made some big signings, Lions knew this game was going to be far from easy.
The visitors started the game on the front foot, with Lions giving as good as they got in the early stages. The Lions defence consisting of Guy Morris, Danny Berg, David Souter and the impeccable Craig Ellis soaked up anything and everything that was thrown at them.
Andy Glynne played superbly in the holding role allowing Daniel Stanton and Sam Sloma the opportunity to open up holes in the visitors defence. Josh Kennet, Adam Bolle and Dean Nyman were a constant menace as the game opened up.
It was the latter that had two great opportunities to open the scoring but on both occasions a lack of composure at the crucial moments ensured the match remained goalless.
Then 15 minutes before half-time Sloma put the Lions in front. In true Sloma style he managed to work a passage to goal and slot the ball past the visiting keeper.
His tally should have been doubled shortly after when Lions were awarded a spot kick for handball, but the usually efficient penalty taker saw his effort saved.
Just before the break, and against the run of play, Winslow drew level. Poor defending allowed a soft cross to make its way into the box with the teasing effort headed home all too easily.
Not for the first time in recent games the Lions went in half time level when in truth the game should have been out of sight.
Following some heated exchanges at half-time, Lions came out like a team possessed and showed a far greater urgency in their overall play and work-rate. Two goals in the space of 10 minutes put Lions 3-1 up.
Morris showed the Lions front men how to finish, putting Lions 2-1 in front with a header that slipped under the keeper’s legs and trickled into the goal. Glynne then scored goal of the game with a fantastic team move which ended with Nyman’s beautifully delivered cross expertly dispatched by Glynne’s head.
Winslow continued to huff and puff with their front man a constant threat which in the end was nullified by an outstanding performance at centre-half from Craig Ellis.
As the game entered the latter stages, Lions added two more deserved goals. Sloma scored his second of the day and top-scorer Adam Bolle finished the job - a fitting reward for his unselfish play and hard work.
Lions remain very much in the thick of promotion and will be delighted with the three points and a good team performance.
Lions manager Tony Gold said: "The players must continue to strive to be the best they can, going through the motions at this stage of the season is not an option.
"Collectively, we are still short in periods of the game we are dominating both defensively and offensively. The players concentration levels can improve at least 15 per cent. Going from 85 per cent to even 90 per cent will make a massive difference."
Lions: Mario Cenolli, Danny Berg, Guy Morris, Andy Glynne, Josh Kennet, Dan Stanton, David Soutar (sub: Adam Myeroff), Craig Ellis, Sam Sloma, Dean Nyman (sub: Aron Barnes), Adam Bolle (sub: Ben Ellis)
Scorers: Sam Sloma (2), Andy Glynne, Adam Bolle, Guy Morris
