Lex kept their title dream very much alive with a convincing 4-1 win over table toppers FC Penley.
Lex went into the game knowing that only a win would be good enough to see them finish top and they started the game brightly, as within two minutes of kick off they had the ball in the back of the net but the assistant quickly ruled it out for offside.
Lex grew in confidence throughout the first half and dominated possession. On the quarter hour mark the favourites had a great chance to take the lead with a low cross from the right, and with the striker unmarked in the middle, his shot was scuffed and the keeper easily scooped up the mistimed shot.
However, on 25 minutes Lex’s hard work paid off, an in swinging cross from the left was met with an outstretched header which bounced onto the bar and fell into a waiting Alan Huxley, who was left with a simple header from close range into the open goal to open the scoring not. He duly applied the finishing touches.
Two minutes later, the ball was in the back of the net once again, but was again judged to have been offside.
The big crowd who came out to watch this game didn’t have to wait long for Lex’s second, as on 32 minutes Josh Phillips rifled a shot from within the are into the roof of the not to give Lex a commanding 2-0 lead.
They weren’t finished there though, with two more goals from striker Matthew Harrison before half time giving Lex a deserved, yet surprising, 4-0 lead at the break.
After the break, an early shot from outside the area was about Lex’s only serious contribution to the second half as Penley woke up and dominated the half, desperately working to salvage something from the game. They got off to an excellent start when centre half Evans was correctly judged to have brought down a Penley striker in the box. The referee blew instantly and with little complaints from the Lex players, the penalty was given. Rob Ward slotted the ball home with a hard shot above and to the right of the keeper to make the score line 4-1.
Penley continued to control the half, but half chances were all they could muster as the home defence stood tall and halted any serious goal threats. Lex seemed happy to sit on the lead with 15 minutes to go and despite a surge of chances in the last five minutes from Penley, the title chasers held on comfortably.
The victory sees the pendulum swing right in Lex’s favour now, two points behind the leaders with a game in hand. The chase for that elusive title goes on.
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