By Andrew Bishara

Box Hill United held on to a tough 2-1 win over Eastern Lions at Wembley Park on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Alex Schroen and Travis Chalk-Hatton were enough to cancel out Andrew Williams' penalty.

The first half was a dull affair with both teams locked in a midfield battle, and struggling with clean possession.

Real chances were few and far between and it took until the stroke of half time for any action.

United's Chris Page handled the ball in the box when he failed to control a low cross, and the referee duly awarded the Lions the penalty.

Williams stepped up to take the spot kickand gave the visitors the lead.

But it barely had time to enjoy taking the advantage when United hit immediately back.

Quick passing from kick-off saw the ball come to Schroen, who somehow drifted alone in the box.

The winger drilled in a low bouncing volley that nicked off the post, leaving Lions goalkeeper Andrew Lightfoot out of reach.

The pace of the second half picked up slightly as both teams went for the win.

The Lions' Philip Ajao had the first real chance when his looped header crashed off the top of the crossbar.

The ball then bounced out to Munyaradzi Nyadzayo, but his rebound shot went high and wide.

A slick move saw Schroen break into a little space but his shot was tamely saved by Lightfoot.

The game seemed headed for a draw when Chalk-Hatton stepped up with a stunning goal.

Receiving the ball from a tight angle, the midfielder produced a Thierry-Henry-chest-and-volley move that swerve through the air and through Lightfoot's hands.

The match-winner could have gotten his second minutes later when his header from a corner was acrobatically cleared off the line, despite protests it went over.

The last bit of action came deep into injury time when Ajao blasted an 18-yard shot that seemed destined for the top corner before United goalkeeper Alex Connell made a magnificent diving save.

MATCH DETAILS

Box Hill United  2 (Alex Schroen 45+3’, Travis Chalk-Hatton 75’) defeated Eastern Lions 1 (Andrew Williams 45+2 Pen’)

Box Hill United: 1. Alex CONNELL (GK), 5. Alex SCHROEN, 8. Caleb LUDLOW, 11. Sebastian BARRERO, 14. Lucas JOHNS (19. Michael KARIUKI 59’), 15. Chris PAGE,25. Michael GODFREY, 18. Joey CALDERONE, 16. Jack GOW, 21. Travic CHALK-HATTON, 17. Aaron PORCARO (20. Ollie PATERNO 46’)
Unused Subs: 35. Christian PAVLIDIS,24. Shaun PETERSON, 26. Jayson GUCCIARDO,
Yellow Cards: SCHREON 69’

EASTERN LIONS: 1. Andrew LIGHTFOOT (GK), 3. Matthew PARRY, 4.Michael JONES, 5. Thomas FALCONER, 6. Andrew WILLIAMS, 7. Ziggy RAZUKI, 8.Mitch BEAMISH, 10. Philip AJAO, 11. Munyaradzi NYAOZAYO,13. Jarrah CLEAR (16. Cameron PAIN 76’), 15.Yianni TOUMANIDIS.
Unused Subs: 28. Robert HAVERCROFT, 9. Louis RAZUKI, 12. Jack DUFFIELD, 2. Michael BRUZZESE