SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
CRANFIELD UNITED 0 LONDON LIONS 6
London Lions continued their excellent season with a high-scoring win over Cranfield United.
With Manager Tony Gold taking a well deserved holiday it was left to 1st team coaches Darren Yarlett and Steve Grenfell to take charge for Saturday’s away trip at Cranfield United. With a very strong squad at their disposal it was all about getting the three points and the players didn’t disappoint after coming away with a 6-0 win.
The conditions for the game were not ideal with strong winds and scattered showers potentially having an effect.
Lions came fast out the blocks and got into their passing rhythm early on, after 10 minutes they went ahead after Sam Sloma let fly from 25 yards - the ball travelled like a rocket after he was set back on the edge of the box by Daniel Stanton.
Lions continued to dominate the opening half hour and the second goal arrived when Aron Barnes played a through ball to Josh Kennet who slipped it pass the on rushing keeper.
Lions should have had the game wrapped up before the break when Adam Bolle missed two glorious chances, one from a header which was saved by the keeper and another strike which sailed over the bar.
During the half time interval Lions made a substitution with Daniel Stanton feeling a slight strain in his thigh, he was replaced by David Soutar who was to have an effect on the scoring.
Cranfield came out like a house on fire and put pressure on the Lions back four, but conceding league goals doesn’t happen often for this side and there was no way the back line would be breached.
After 50 minutes Lions were awarded a free kick 30 yards out, while the Cranfield players were discussing the decision the ref allowed Soutar to spot the ball and take it early, he didn’t think twice and stuck the ball into the bottom corner whilst the home side were still organising to make it 3-0.
At this point Lions made a double sub with Daran Bern replacing Kennet and Adam Myeroff replacing the returning Jake Gottlieb. This only had a positive effect on the game and on the hour mark Ben Ellis drove down the right and whipped in a delightful ball for Bern to arrive at the back post to smash a volley into the top corner.
4 soon became 5 when Aron Barnes received the ball in the middle of the park and played in Bern to slot home his second of the game to make it 5-0.
The final 10 minutes was a keep ball session and the 6th arrived with five minutes to go when the unselfish Bern was one on one with the keeper but decided to roll in the hard working Bolle who deserved his goal for the effort he put in.
Darren Yarlett commented: "This was a professional display by the boys; the way we kept the ball and moved it around the pitch was high quality. We are in a unique position to have a side full of technically good players who are all on the same wavelength. The boys do not give themselves enough credit sometimes, watching it from the side highlights what a special side this is and they can go onto great things if they continue playing like that.
"At times opposition have to hold their hands up and say we were outclassed by a distance. We now have a very tough away game at Amersham on Tuesday night where three points are a must."
Yarlett added: "The only sour note of the match was the racial abuse some of the lads received from the Cranfield bench, the players out on the pitch were no trouble but the management and coaches should take a long hard look at themselves, when we are in a period of ‘Kick it out’ I think the campaign need to take a look at the lower leagues."
