Stamford Lions are beaten by Leverington Sports in Peterborough League Premier Division clash

Two second half goals sent Stamford Lions tumbling to defeat on Saturday as they were punished for failing to convert a host of chances in their Peterborough League Premier Division clash with Leverington.

Their visitors enjoyed early spells of possession as Lions looked to soak up pressure and play on the counter-attack.

The first opportunity came after just five minutes when Dan Dimeo raced away from the Leverington defence but only managed to lift his shot into the arms of the keeper.

Lions had called upon the services of veteran goalkeeper John Feetham and he was soon in the thick of the action as Leverington fired a dangerous free kick at the goal that he clawed away.

Dimeo again burst past his marker but this time blasted his shot over the bar before Zac Treweek spun away and was through on goal but saw his shot well saved.

On the stroke of half-time, Lions' new signing Dominykas Butkus linked up well with Treweek and fired a shot that the keeper pushed onto the bar.

Despite both sides creating good chances, the score was locked at 0-0 going into the half-time break.

Dimeo again went close at the start of the second half when he curled an effort just inches wide of the post.

The missed opportunities started to frustrate the young Lions attack and the intensity and concentration levels seemed to wain.

This was evident when with 15 minutes left to play a long ball into the Stamford area was only half-cleared and fell to Leverington’s dangerous forward Rob Hitchcock who fired in an early shot that Feetham got a hand to but the ball squired away from the save and crossed the line.

The goal deflated the home side and in contrast Leverington sprung into life as Feetham was forced into a fine save to keep the score to just one.

At the other end Treweek's frustration grew when another close range shot was smothered by the keeper and, then when he was finally beaten by a Sean Edwards shot, the ball was hacked off the line to prevent an equalising goal.

Leverington sealed the points when Hitchcock doubled his tally as he stepped away from two challenges and rifled a low, hard shot into the bottom corner.

Lions manager James Sheehan commented: "It was a tough defeat to take.

"We created several really good opportunities to score and it just wasn’t happening for us in front of goal. The lads grew frustrated and that gifted the advantage to Leverington.

"To their credit they took their chances and that is why they won the game. I am a firm believer that if you don’t score you cannot complain about losing a game.

"On the positive side, we did create some very good chances so we need to take from that as on another day we find the finishing touch.

"We remain realistic as, with so many new faces and young lads playing their first season in men’s football, it is going to take time.

"As frustrated as we feel after the defeat we must learn, look forward and improve.

"I strongly believe we have a core of a decent side and, if we can keep the lads together and improve the self belief, I honestly feel as though we can turn the corner and start picking up some good results.”