Hellenic League Premier Division

Virginia Water.....2

Lydney Town........3

LYDNEY picked up a late, late win over hosts Virgina Water in their first away game in six weeks.

After seven consecutive home fixtures, Lydney took on the Hellenic League Division One East champions and started well.

Lewis Halford drilled a shot just wide from the edge of the box while in the 10th minute a Jack Rutter free-kick forced home keeper Matt Jones to punch clear.

Moments later, a controversial decision saw Lydney go behind as the assistant referee flagged for a penalty for the home side when Liam Sheppard’s challenge inside the area despite the referee waving play on.

Lydney’s protests proved wasted as Jake Baker duly slotted the ball home from the penalty spot.

This setback upset Lydney’s rhythm but gradually they came back into the game and in the 25th minute Tom Baldwin broke forward from right-back, and his cross to the far post saw Declan Morley-Lyne head home.

Lydney were now making all the running but Keelan Hamblett was unable to score with the goal at his mercy half an hour into the match.

On the stroke of half time Hamblett found himself with another chance but he hit his shot straight at the keeper leaving the score all square at the break.

Lydney started the second half strongly as neither side created a clear cut chance on goal.

The home team pushed forward and Jake Baker found himself through on goal but a last ditch tackle by Rutter forced a corner.

In the 80th minute controversy raised its head again when an offside-looking Liam Whyte duly slotted home.

Despite this setback Lydney continued to push forward.

Town equalised again through Jordi Sheen’s header from a Declan Morley-Lyne corner but Lydney were not content to settle for a point.

Thompson saw an effort on goal go narrowly wide but with the game deep into injury time, Rutter’s free-kick found Morley-Lyne who coolly cut back into the box, beating two defenders, and struck the ball into the far corner of the net.

The goal sparked scenes of jubilation for Lydney Town, the substitutes running half the pitch to mob the scorer during which time the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game.