The Lions were defeated by the slimmest of margins inn their second pre-season friendly against NCE Premier team Nostell Miners Welfare at the Welfare Ground this afternoon despite having several chances to put the game beyond their lower level opponents.

Danny Forrest and Lee Ellington snatched at chances in the first half and the Lions also lost Alex Davidson to injury just before the break with Joe O’Neill replacing him up front. Second half substitute Gavin Rothery brought a superb save from Gavin Ansley early on and Michael Burns fired a free kick just wide.

O’Neill’s effort forced a reflex save but when the ball fell to Forrest then ball got caught between his feet and when it broke loose Joey Spivack put his effort from six yards the wrong side of the post. The only goal of the game came from a wayward back pass that went straight to Brad Thompson who held off Danny Ellis before firing wide of Anthony Pecora.

Spivak put a shot just over before the end but as is the nature of these games, with a raft of second half changes by both teams the game by this time had lost some of its momentum.