London Lions 0 Buntingford Town 1 A FIRST half goal from Will Turl saw Town continue their championship challenge on Saturday. The result suggests a closely-fought battle but it was the home keeper Mike Elvey who took the game s plaudits as he pulled off

London Lions 0 Buntingford Town 1

A FIRST half goal from Will Turl saw Town continue their championship challenge on Saturday.

The result suggests a closely-fought battle but it was the home keeper Mike Elvey who took the game's plaudits as he pulled off a number of miraculous saves to always keep his side within the game.

The brisk wind was never going to help either side but after a slow opening 10 minutes with both teams easing their way into the game Town started carving out some good chances on an excellent playing surface.

On 14 minutes Mark Wright was played through on goal by Turl but he snatched his shot wide from the edge of the area and four minutes later Wright had a half chance that Elvey blocked well but the return block from Tom Malins from just eight yards was superb as the ball ricocheted from his body and onto the outside of the right hand post.

Malins was unlucky again 10 minutes later when he met a Luke Robins cross with a fine angled volley that Elvey blocked well with his legs.

Robins then looped a header onto the roof of the net eight minutes before the break from a Malins corner with the keeper motionless but the defining moments of the game materialised in a three minute period before the break.

Lions had looked good in possession throughout the half but had largely been ineffective against the Town rearguard but a mistake by Jamie Babbage in the 42nd minute let in Josh Rosenfield who was flattened by Town keeper Damion Williamson for a clumsy penalty award.

Williamson turned hero diving full length to his right to palm away the penalty and this proved costly for the home side as they conceded in first half injury time.

Malins delivered an excellent looping cross from the right which was met with an even more skilful looping header by Turl giving Elvey no chance from 12 yards.

Town continued to dominate in the second half with the brisk breeze in their favour.

Jamie Babbage, Mark Wright and Luke Robins had early chances miss the target with Robins also having a good shout for a penalty turned down after being felled in the home area.

The home keeper continued his fine work with excellent one-on-one blocks from Will Turl and Tom Malins again to frustrate Town and in the latter stages Matt Turl was clean through on goal only to be beaten by the excellent diving block of Elvey again.

Town's dominance but lack of goals caused a few nervous final moments as Lions pushed men forward and knocked longer balls but no clear chances were created and Town held on well for their three points.

Boss Paul Attfield was pleased with his side's display.

"This was another largely satisfying performance from us," he said.

"The only worry was that not scoring the second goal always means the opposition are well in the game, however much you dominate, but our lack of goals was more down to excellent keeping than poor finishing, and we defended well enough to deserve a clean sheet."

Town face a key home game against third placed Hadley on Saturday. The visitors will arrive at The Bury a point behind Attfield's side, with the teams having identical goal differences.

Town: D Williamson, L Endacott (C Hardy), D Chaffey, D Easley, J Babbage, M Smith, M Turl, T Malins, M Wright, W Turl (L Beaumont), L Robins (J Morriss) - Unused sub: G Christie