A couple of communication breakdowns cost the Lions dearly, with in-form teenage winger Cameron Weir making them pay on both occasions.

Desperate for points as part of the mid-table jostle for a finals spot, Young took the lead midway through the first half when skipper Duncan Cameron's brilliant strike found the far corner of the goal.

Just ten minutes later Weir equalised, before he gave the Hawks the first lead 20 minutes into the second half.

A bull header from defender Tim Harris off a corner in the dying minutes sealed all three points.

Henwood Park winger Ryan McKenzie said next week's test against Hanwood at Rawlings Park will test their credentials.

"You can't be too cocky but we're on a nice run. We've got Hanwood coming up, it's a big test ot see where we end up," he said.

"We'll definitely turn up for training and put the intensity in there. At the end of the day we want the result and we'll give it our all, that's for sure."

McKenzie said Weir's game has developed enormously in his first full season in first grade, which included a hat-trick against defending champions Lake Albert.

"For a young fella he's really coming into his own and that's kudos to him," McKenzie said.

"Menser's coaching really well and if we can get these young guys to the top of their game at the right time of the season, we'll definitely have a good run at the grand final."

Cameron said it was rare for the Lions backline to experience a couple of crucial fadeouts.

"I think we've got one of the best backlines in the comp but it all comes down to a bit of communication and if you drop for a minute against a good team like Henwood Park, that's what happens," he said.

"We just can't find enough goals at the moment."

Elsewhere Lake Albert continued their strong form with a 4-1 win over Tumut, Leeton United scored three valuable points courtesy of an own goal against Tolland, Hanwood thrashed South Wagga 5-0 and Wagga United beat Cootamundra 5-1.

RESULTS

Pascoe Cup: LEETON UNITED 1 (own goal) def TOLLAND 0; HENWOOD PARK 3 (Cameron Weir 2, Tim Harris) def YOUNG 1 (Duncan Cameron); LAKE ALBERT 4 (Kane Baumer, Duncan Brodie, Chris Durman, Mitch Tinnock) def TUMUT 1 (Daniel French); HANWOOD 5 (Michael Musitano 3, Michael Cimador, Joey Schirripa) def SOUTH WAGGA 0; WAGGA UNITED 5 (Nazar Yousif 2, Chris Walker, Adrian Merrigan, own goal) def COOTAMUNDRA 1 (own goal).

Leonard Cup: HANWOOD 2 (Airlee Savage, Jorgja Heffer) def COOTAMUNDRA 0; JUNEE 7 (Elisha Ward 3, Kaitlyn Buik 3, Kimberly Kelly) def LEETON UNITED 0; WAGGA UNITED 1 (Daisy Andrews) def HENWOOD PARK 0.

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