Lions clinch league title with 4-3 win over Hayes

VLONDON LIONS MANAGER Andrew Landesberg was gushing with pride as he saw his side crowned Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Division One champions.

Wrapping up the title with a 4-3 win over AFC Hayes, the Rowley Lane side claimed the title with three games to spare.

Reflecting on their achievement, Landesberg said: “I’m extremely proud of this team, not just for winning the title, but the way we achieved it — with the best goal difference, fewest goals conceded and perhaps the league’s top goalscorer in Austin Lipman.

“Winning it is fantastic, but the way in which we’ve conducted ourselves as a team and as a club makes me very proud.”

Securing their ninth trophy in nine seasons, Landesberg along with his coaches Darren Yarlett and Steve Grenfell have practically built the squad from scratch. Fourteen of the 22-man squad started playing for the club in its U7 teams, while debuts were also handed to 10 other U18 players during the campaign. Landesberg said “That’s the real measure of our success as a club, it proves the system works and continues to be successful and has created a conveyor belt of quality players.”

While there’s still plenty to play for this season — six more points to try and reach the 100-point tally, as well as cup quarter and semi-finals to play for, Landesberg can still afford to look ahead to next season’s challenges. “I’m very positive about it”, he says.

“We’ve played over 10 teams in various cup runs this season from step 5 and only got beaten in the last 16 of the FA Vase. We’ll look at the possibility of bringing in one or two players from a higher level to perhaps strengthen the squad even further. We’ll never be complacent or over-confident, but we’re all excited and positive about next season already, the question is can we go even further? We have the facilities, now a real challenge lies ahead of us.”