Three unanswered goals ensured Lordswood AFC claimed the spoils at Halls AFC in the Southern Counties East Football League Division One.

Brilliant covering by Joe Horlick saved Halls in the opening exchanges when Rameses Meseorisa looked to be clear after a sliced defensive clearance gave him sight of goal. Then Harvey Welford sent Tommy Davey through and his lob over out-rushing Halls goalkeeper Josh Atkinson floated past the far post.

Tad Nago had a free kick saved comfortably by Atkinson before Lordswood went ahead in the fifteenth minute. Meseorisa was tripped in the penalty area by Mark Adofo and Timmy Babington sent Atkinson the wrong way from the spot.

Most of the hosts best moments came from corners and from a Muraino Banjoko delivery, Joe Freeman got the highest but his flick header went just beyond the far post. Banjoko then got on the end of a swift passing move, however, he failed to get any power on his shot and Sam Grant saved comfortably.

Welford hit a low shot from thirty yards for Lordswood that went well wide before James Bayford’s long range effort at the other end was saved easily by Grant. Welford had the last chance of the first half with a fierce drive that was beaten out by Atkinson.

Early in the second half, Atkinson made a stunning save from a header by Freeman Rogers, then the Halls’ goalkeeper pushed away a difficult corner and it fell for Davey whose side foot volley from a tight angle flew wide.

Bayford fired beyond the far post before Lordswood came close to scoring a second when Davey got on the end of a huge Grant clearance and headed over Atkinson but Luke Kimberley read the danger and raced back to hook it off the goal-line. It was then Halls’ turn to go close when Bayford’s tumultuous drive rattled the crossbar.

Ben Martin’s wild challenge caused a flare up involving most of the players from both teams. Once the fracas had died down, the Halls midfielder was shown a yellow card along with a player from each side for their part in the scuffle.

Just under twenty minutes remained when the visitors scored the crucial second goal. Welford found space outside the penalty area and his clever clipped effort went in off the inside of the upright.

Jonathan Harris headed Lewis Tristram’s free kick onto the roof of the net then Babington nicked it off the toes of Atkinson before stabbing it wide of the post as Lordswood looked for a third.

To their credit, the hosts continued to try and pull a goal back and Martin had a shot saved. Grant was again called upon soon after to make a good save from Gergo Petrovics.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Lordswood added a third when Alfie Clark set up Shaq Williams for a tap in at the far post.

Victory kept Lordswood in fourth place while Halls remain in eleventh.

Halls AFC: Atkinson; Horlick, Kimberley, Freeman, Adofo; Petrovics, Asiedu (Manning 54); Martin (90+1), Banjoko, Noiki (Doyle 86); Bayford (Amusen 90+1) .

Sub not used: Ramsay.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Adofo (15 foul), Martin (67 foul), Petrovics (68 ungentlemanly conduct), Noiki (70 foul), Freeman (85 ungentlemanly conduct)

Lordswood: Grant; Shadwell (Miles 59), Rogers, Harris, Tristram; Nago (Clark 72), Medhurst; Meseorisa (Williams 80), Welford, Babington; Davey (Kuchkov 80).

Sub not used: Stewart.

Goalscorers: Babington (16 pen), Welford (71), Williams (90+1)

Yellow cards: Meseorisa (40 foul), Nago (68 ungentlemanly conduct), Clark (85 ungentlemanly conduct)

Referee: Matt Charles

Assistants: Kenny Aghasili and Olagoke Lawal

Attendance: 145

Pictures supplied by Will Allen.