HERTS CENTENARY TROPHY QUARTER-FINAL
BALDOCK TOWN 2 LONDON LIONS 3

London Lions were knocked out at the last eight stage of the Herts Centenary Trophy in a game that should have been won in the first 45 minutes.

Played in blustery conditions and on a difficult surface, it was the away side who dominated from the off with a host of glorious chances created by the attacking front line of Charlie Kasler, Josh Kennet and Austin Lipman.

Chance after chance went begging with the Baldock keeper being kept the busier of the two but it was the home team who took the lead when the referee gave a soft free-kick on the edge of the box. Baldock’s player-manager Luke Gregson stepped up and bent it around the wall into the bottom corner.

The Lions had the strong wind behind them in the second half, with Baldock being pushed back and it was more of the same with Lions creating the better chances.

With 25 minutes remaining Max Kyte was brought on and his first touch saw his glancing header strike the crossbar. The ball then bounced out only for Baldock to break down the field, the ball was played out to the left and a fantastic cross was delivered into the Lions box, Guy Morris’s attempted clearance ended up in the back of his own net for 2-0.

Lions managed to pull one back with eight minutes left through Kyte with his 12th goal of the season, and in the last minute Kennet’s curling shot was headed off the line to deny extra-time.

Lions boss Andy Landesberg said: "I feel like I’m repeating myself in terms of the chances we create every game.

"I could go on but I have to give credit to the players; what an effort and performance they gave, this game should have been over in the first half but it wasn’t meant to be.

"We now focus our attention to Wingate next Saturday.