Non-League and Academy football writer

In this season’s Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division play-off final, London Lions faced Wormley Rovers, at Rowley Lane on bank holiday Monday. London Lions had finished in fourth place in the Premier Division table during the regular season. Wormley Rovers finished one place and one point behind London Lions in the table. London Lions won in the semi-finals of the play-offs, against Cockfosters (away), with Wormley Rovers overcoming Tring Athletic, in their one off play-off tie. It was London Lions who made history today, by reaching step 4 of the FA pyramid for the very first time in the club’s history, winning this play-off final 4-3 on penalties, after the game had finished 1-1 in regulation time.

Wormley Rovers would manage the first goal attempt of this very important match. With Noah Mosanya’s free-kick delivery from deep, being met by Louis Offer, whose headed effort on goal was gathered by London Lions goalkeeper, Nathan Bloohn. However, a couple of minutes later and still very early on in this game, and London Lions would take an early lead. Max Davis’ in-swinging corner-kick went beyond the Wormley goalkeeper (Carlos Simeon) before going over the goal-line, with Luke Marshall heading the ball into the roof of the net, as he tried to clear it, 1-0.

Wormley Rovers did respond well to going 1-0 down. After Joshua Asiedu had got to a long pass on the right-hand side of the London Lions box, he would hit a powerful effort on goal, which was well parried by Nathan Bloohn, at his near post. Soon after that effort on goal, and Reece Mosanya would win the ball some 25 yards out from the London Lions goal, before hitting a powerful low effort on goal, which was well parried to his right by Nathan Bloohn. Following on from that good response from the away side, and Wormley would manage to draw level in this contest. Ryan Stevenson’s lofted pass would find Joshua Asiedu. The skilful winger would turn well with the ball on the edge of the London Lions penalty area, before finishing powerfully in to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1.

Despite a competitive end to the first half, London Lions did manage to create two further goalscoring chances. Firstly, Max Davis’ clever forward pass had found the run of Daniel Creese, on the left-hand side of the Wormley box. However, his low effort on goal was gathered by Carlos Simeon. And then, a couple of minutes later, and Max Kyte would hold the ball up well on the edge of the Wormley penalty area, before laying the ball off to Max Davis, whose powerful first time effort would go narrowly over Simeon’s crossbar.

The early stages of the second half, were very cagey. After Max Davis had seen his powerful effort from the edge of the Wormley box be well blocked by Reiss Webber, there was then quite a lengthy spell in the game, where there really wasn’t many goalscoring chances. Next, and around the 70 minute mark of the game, and Ibrahim Kehinde would do well to hold off a London Lions defender, before hitting a powerful low effort narrowly wide of Nathan Bloohn’s right-hand post. And during the latter stages of the game, and after Erald Desa had turned with the ball well, on the left-hand side of the London Lions penalty area, he would then see his powerful low effort on goal be well saved by the feet of Nathan Bloohn. Then, a couple of moments later, Ryan Stevenson would curl an effort just wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

Very late on in regulation time, and London Lions created a good chance. As Benji Weinberger found Louie Basso with a cross towards the back post of the Wormley goal, and Louie Basso was in a bit of space but, his resulting header went over the goal. This play-off final would now be decided by penalties. The first penalties for each side, were both scored. However, Nathan Bloohn would save well from George Beattie’s effort, with Benji Weinberger then making it 2-1 to London Lions. 

After Benji Weinberger had made it 2-1 to London Lions on penalties, the next two penalties were scored, making it 3-2 to London Lions. However, the next two penalties were saved by the respective goalkeeper’s, with the pressure now on Carlos Simeon, to score the next penalty for Wormley. And he finished well in to the goal. It was however, the composed Jack Mattey, who clinically finished the next penalty in to the goal, to win the play-off final for London Lions, and secure their promotion to step 4 for next season.

It is an incredible achievement for all involved with London Lions, as this very talented team are promoted to step 4 for the first time in the club’s history. They worked really well as a team today, in front of a big crowd at Rowley Lane, and against a very good Wormley Rovers side, who have also achieved so much during the season. My player of the match this afternoon, was highly creative and skilful London Lions midfielder, Max Davis. He scored the opening goal of the game, and he never stopped working hard for the team, always looking to get on the ball and create chances. Mentions must also go to Wormley players Ryan Stevenson and Ibrahim Kehinde, on their performances today and also, Adam Lipman and John Levy for their respective performances for London Lions, with them also impressing, in my opinion.