LIONS PRIMED TO TAKE NEXT STEP

Southern League whets the appetite

- By John Lyons

LONDON Lions supremo Andy Landesberg says the excitement is palpable as the club gear up to make their Southern League bow.

The Barnet-based outfit achieved promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division via two dramatic play-off encounters last term.

The fourth-placed side triumphed 4-2 on penalties at Cockfosters after a 3-3 draw in the semi-finals before edging out Wormley Rovers in front of hundreds of elated supporters at Rowley Lane in the final.

After a 1-1 draw, the Lions again kept their nerve in a shoot-out to run out 4-3 victors.

It has earned them a place at Step 4 for the first time in their history, securing a berth in Southern Division One Central.

For manager and chairman Landesberg, it was a nerve-jangling end to the season.

"It was great to get to the play-offs, but the message from me was 'it doesn’t really mean anything if you don’t win them - you might as well have been seventh, eighth or ninth’,” said the 67-year-old, who owns a reading glasses company.

“The boys reacted really well and our goalkeeper Nathan Bloohn made three incredible saves in the shoot-out against Cockfosters and two in the final.

"Penalty shoot-outs are harsh, but you have to do them.

“It’s a painful end for the losers, but euphoria for the winners.