Hadley Wood & Wingate 3 - 3 London Lions

Hadley Wood let three goal lead slip as match ends in a draw

HadleyWood & Wingate welcomed London Lions to the Harry Abrahams Stadium for a local derby, in what was a game full of great end to end football.

The game started brightly for the hosts after Alfie Bartram gained possession in midfield, he put Meschach Williams through on goal with an outside of the foot pass down the left channel, and with the forward just needing to beat the keeper, Josh Tray was out quick to deny his attempted deft finish.

The first goal of the game came after 13 minutes. Meschach Williams went on a bombarding run down the right channel, before he put in a dangerous cross, however the ball went over the head of Jones who didn't give up the threat, and gathered the ball before passing it back inside for Bartram, 20 yards from goal, who curled a fantastic spectacle of a shot into the far corner with Tray at full stretch.

The away side looked to instantly get back into the game. Max Kyte ran the right channel well before he passed the ball back inside for Josh Kennet, 18 yards from goal who had a terrific strike, and with the ball on it's way in, Jack Metcalfe who had a phenomenal game, made a stunning save down low to his left. From the resulting corner, the ball was headed clear, but only as far as Charlie Kasler, who looked for the bottom corner, but Metcalfe again remained difficult to beat.

With the visitors continuing to apply pressure, they won a free kick on the edge of the box, and after Kennet curled the ball past the wall, Metcalfe once more had to be at full stretch to make a picture perfect save to his left, palming the ball away from danger. Metcalfe was kept busy, as Jake Rinsler went on a good run before finding Kyte in the box, who from point blank range was denied again by the keeper, who used his feet this time to deny the forward.

HadleyWood & Wingate began to relieve pressure, after Jones played the ball into the feet of young 16 old prospect Josh Grantham, he beat his defender but could only place his shot wide of the post. Danny Hart then had his powerful drive well saved in the box, before from the resulting corner, the ball found the head of Grantham who got a deft flick to place it into the far corner of the net, right at the end of half time.

After the break, Mark Goodman scored a phenomenal goal. After being invited to run from left back, he drove a powerful 18 yard effort into the far corner past Tray on 53 minutes. The visitors however, found their way back into the game two minutes later. After Kyte was played in on goal, Metcalfe came out quick to deny him but was injured making the block, with the ball falling kindly to Jake Fickman who powered in the rebound. With an hour played, HadleyWood & Wingate were shocked after an own goal by Luke Kanjor, who knew nothing about it. After Kennet delivered in a dangerous cross from the right, Kyte headed the ball downwards before it bounced up and hit off Kanjor's head.

Metcalfe was called into action again, finding himself in another one on one situation denying Kyte with a great low save. After 65 minutes, the game was level after Kasler found himself with time out on the right channel, he passed the ball into the feet of Kennet who curled a stunning outside of the foot finish from 18 yards, which Metcalfe could do nothing about. The home side searching for a winner late on almost found it, after Sharpe on the edge of the box passed to Karl Stevenson who had a shot on the turn, but the keeper denied him making a stunning save as the referee blew the final whistle.

Goalkeeper Jack Metcalfe on the game: “Disappointing to draw the game at the end, I think we dominated large spells. Should have scored at the end, but I'll take a point” On his saves: “It's about working hard and proving myself every time I get the chance to do well”.

Report by Khalid Karimullah

Line ups:

HadleyWood & Wingate

1) Jack Metcalfe → Booked on 60''
2) Karl Stevenson
3) Mark Goodman → Ike Nzuruba 78''
4) Ahmet Rifat (c)
5) Luke Kanjor
6) Joe Sharpe
7) Danny Hart
8) Meschach Williams
9) Lewis Jones
10) Josh Grantham → James Karena 70''
11) Alfie Bartram → Micah Jackson 48''

12) James Karena
17) Alfie Ripsher
14) Ike Nzuruba
15) Micah Jackson
16) Josue Nzau

London Lions

1) Josh Tray
2) Jake Rinsler
3) Ollie Craig
4) Andy Glynne
5) Zac Rose
6) Jon Ellis
7) Josh Kennet (c)
8) Jake Fickman
9) Max Kyte
10) Charlie Kasler
11) Ben Ellis → TJ Ketterman 73''

12) TJ Ketterman
17) Benji WeinBerger
14) Adam Lipman
15) Josh Pistol