MANCHESTER — This time they needed just one overtime session to settle the matter.

Alex Hall's goal in the 82nd minute of play netted undefeated Londonderry a 3-2 win over defending Division I boys' soccer champ Manchester Central at Gill Stadium Friday afternoon.

The last time these two met was the title game. Central claimed its championship with a sudden-death score in the 104th minute of the second overtime on a corner kick play.

On Friday, Central very nearly stole the win in the closing minutes of regulation play on a corner kick when Sam Binogono one-touched Semir Sandzic's serve just inside the post from point-blank range, but Lancers keeper Bobby Krause somehow deflected it away with his right hand.

“I didn't really see it. My dive was all reaction,” said Krause, who made five saves helping his team improve to 5-0 while snapping the defending champs' (4-2-1) three-game win streak. “(Central) is a fantastic team. It feels great finding a way to beat them.”

Central's defense contained Londonderry's possession-oriented style for the entire game. The Lancers generated their scores on quick strikes. The game-winning goal was well designed. Kenny Desmarais settled the ball about 30 yards out, took a touch and eluded two defenders while settling into open space.

“I was a little too far out for a shot and saw defenders coming at me,” said Desmarais. The converging defense created an opening in front of the net. Desmarais saw Hall heading there and made the pass.

“I used the first touch to get open and just nailed it to the far post and we got a little revenge,” said Hall.

“Sometimes you play yourself into a loss,” said Central coach Chris LaBerge. “Their last score was a nice goal. The first two came off our mistakes. They are a quick counterattacking team and took advantage. Hopefully we learn from our mistakes.”

Central took an early lead on a header goal from Justin Reno at 5:48, snapping Londonderry's shutout streak at three games.

Londonderry's Rob Lucas netted the next two scores, scoring the first on a breakaway bid off a long pass from Dominic Galluzzo at 10:15 and swiping a attempted Central clearing pass to put the Lancers ahead, 2-1, at 13:06.

Binogono was tackled in the box on a Central scoring surge. Keegan LaChance, the coach's son, lined the penalty kick just under the bar, tying the game in the 27th minute.

eemmerling@unionleader.com