London Lions 3 v 1 Buckingham Athletic

Saturday 20th January 2018
Spartan South Midlands League Division One
Rowley Lane, Arkley
Admission including Programme: £5.00
Attendance: 20
Match Rating: 3

Today was a classic winter’s morning when it was difficult to make plans, with heavy overnight rain followed by steady drizzle throughout the morning causing the vast majority of non-league games, particularly at Steps 5 and 6, to steadily have their games called off. I had originally shortlisted a visit to London Lions, and when I saw tweets that their game would most likely be on, that is where I headed. As rain fell quite heavily throughout my walk from the train station, with standing water all around, I did fear a late postponement. Although there was a back-up of a revisit to Boreham Wood against Dover Athletic, I did not really fancy paying £18.00 to get in and so it was a relief when I arrived at Rowley Lane to find players warming up and the pitch in relatively excellent condition.

Rowley Lane is about a two mile, half hour walk from Elstree & Borehamwood train station, and the football ground is located amongst a complex of various grass and 3G pitches, with a very spacious and quite attractively decorated clubhouse located next to the car park, although it very much has more the feel of a function room. Spectators enter the football ground towards one corner behind one of the goals, through a pre-fab turnstile lock, to find a very neat and tidy ground, that was refurbished in 2015 to allow them to progress back into step 6 football this season, without having to groundshare as they had to during their last stint. There is a relatively large modern all-seater stand along one length, which offers excellent unobstructed views, and there is a small refreshment hut to one side, although that was not in use today. Along this length there is just hard standing, as there is behind both goals, although behind the goal opposite to the entrance, the path has quite a steep incline towards one of the corners. The remaining length is inaccessible to spectators. Perched above the rest of the complex, one can view the other pitches behind the stand, and trees line the opposite length and behind one goal. Although the ground is enclosed, this is only by see-through fencing. An 8 page, black and white programme was included with admission, half of which detailed the club's history, with only one page giving a recent report and the top half of the league table, and the predicted team line-ups on the back page.

London Lions are having a good first season back in the Spartan South Midlands League Division One after winning the Hertfordshire Senior League last season by 23 points, and came into this game in fifth place, following 13 wins and three draws from their 22 league games. Buckingham Athletic were in ninth place, having won nine and drawn five of their 19 league games.

On a grey afternoon with light rain continuing to fall during the first half, the saturated pitch had a big effect on the game, as players struggled to keep their footing and were deceived by inconsistent roll of the ball, particularly in and around the far goal mouth which London Lions were attacking in the first half. The home side took the lead on 4 minutes with a superb free kick from just outside the area into the top left corner by Austin Lipman, with the keeper rooted to his spot. The visitors had a good chance on 7 minutes, when a ball forward sent their striker through, but his eventual shot after checking back hit the keeper's legs. On 16 minutes, the ball was played forward into the penalty area for the London Lions forward to run onto and although the keeper looked favourite to get there first initially, the ball held up in the pitch, allowing the forward to get there first and the keeper brought him down. The ball spilled loose for another home player to strike the ball just high of the goal, but the referee awarded a penalty, a contentious decision following the subsquent shot on goal. After much arguing, Adam Bolle struck the ball low in off the left post, with the keeper hardly moving and who was subsequently booked. On 23 minutes, the hosts were again helped by the pitch holding up the ball as it otherwise would have gone out of play, allowing the ball to be crossed to a central position but it was struck over the bar. The visitors were looking rather forlorn in the poor conditions and feeling hard done by with some of the decisions of the officials, however on the stroke of half time, they were awarded a penalty when the ball was dinked forward into the box and the keeper brought down the striker as he ran onto the ball. Matt Cruse drilled the ball low to the left of the keeper, to get his team right back in the game.

The rain finally relented during the interval, and thankfully did not return, and the second half was an even affair, with both teams carving out the occasional decent chance, and on 83 minutes, Buckingham were awarded a penalty by the referee when the forward appeared to be brought down as he ran into the area and along the byline. But after the referee talked to his assistant, the decision was rescinded, finally deciding the defender made contact with the ball, and a drop-ball was given.  The visitors came close again on 87 minutes, when a deft back pass set up a strike on goal, which the keeper parried and the loose ball was struck against the outside of the near post. But London Lions sealed the three points with an even better free kick by Lipman than his first, struck from fully 30 yards as the ball weaved and swerved its way just inside the far post with the keeper again rooted to his spot.

London Lions certainly deserved the three points, although the conditions certainly helped them on their way, partly with some favourable runs of the ball on the saturated pitch, but also they adapted to the tricky conditions much better and more positively. Being wet and increasingly cold throughout following my rainy walk to the ground, it is fair to say I have had better groundhopping days, however hats off to London Lions for being the only club in both divisions of the Spartan South Midlands League to get a game on on grass today, and it was nice to visit a friendly club with relatively well-appointed facilities.