MOLTEN SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HODDESDON 1 LONDON LIONS 0

London Lions will feel hard done wondering how they didn’t leave Hoddesdon with at least a point after going down to their second league defeat of the season.

This wasn't a game for the purists - the pitch made it difficult for both sides to play any fluent football, but it was a game played in a good competitive spirit.

Both sides were soon into rhythm quickly in a match played in heavy rain. Hoddesdon created the first chance of the night after eight minutes, but Mario Cenolli was equal to the shot and it was a sharp reminder that Lions had to stay switched on.

Ten minutes later it was Lions' turn to see if they could take the lead. Leading-scorer Adam Bolle burst through on goal, but his shot lacked the clinical edge it required and the Hoddesdon keeper managed to divert the shot away with his leg.

Lions defended strongly as the half progressed, soaking up a lot of defensive pressure. Lions looked sharp on the break, but lacked the cutting edge to create any real opportunities. More often than not, Lions would break quickly but then play would break down in the Hoddesdon third.

Both sides would have been content going into the break 0-0 on the balance of play.

The Lions really took the game to their hosts during the second half. Lions dominated possession, however with all that domination Hoddesdon’s goal was rarely troubled and on the odd occasion it was the visitors were wasteful.

With 25 minutes remaining it looked as if the game was heading for a goalless draw when Hoddesdon’s dogged determination eventually paid off and broke Lions resolve.

A cross from Hoddesdon’s left came over far too easily and then somehow Ben Andreos managed to outjump two covering Lions defenders heading the ball in off the post and into the goal.

Adding insult to injury, Daren Bern was then giving his marching orders for a second yellow card for a supposed dive out on the touchline.

Lions threw everything at Hoddesdon in the final 10 minutes, but just could not muster that one chance to bring them level.

With more of a cutting edge in the final third it is only a matter of time before Lions get back to winning ways. At times Lions are too nice and they need to show a little more aggression in these types of games if they want to get something out of them.

Lions: Mario Cenolli, Danny Berg (sub: Andy Glynne), Michael Sacks, Guy Morris (capt), Jake Gottlieb, Aron Barnes, Josh Kennet, Daniel Stanton, Daran Bern, Dean Nyman (sub: Ben Ellis), Adam Bolle