LONDONDERRY — Forced to endure a weeklong layoff following its lone loss of the season, Londonderry wasted little time asserting its dominance in Friday afternoon's 3-0 win over Timberlane of Plaistow.

Every starter, save keeper Bobby Krause, who saved one shot to preserve the Lancers' sixth shutout, touched the ball at least once during the home team's first two possessions. Both extended extravaganzas, generating great shots.

Londonderry (12-1) generated five shots on goal and two corner kicks before the game clock recorded six minutes played.

“Oh my, Londonderry is a very good team. They possess the ball real well,” said Timberlane coach Mitch Mencis while watching his team attempt to survive the opening minutes of play.

The Owls (9-4-3), who entered the game winning four of their last five, and pursuing a home tournament game for the first time since 2006, were outshot 18-1 in the first half.

Timberlane finishes the regular season next Wednesday against undefeated Bedford, the team that upended Londonderry 1-0 last Friday night.

“Our ball possession was absurd,” said Dylan Holland. The Lancers central midfielder served as the hub of the relentless attack, receiving passes with his back to the goal and slicing passes to open players.

Rob Hart booted two shots off the crossbar before netting the first goal of the game at 36:54. Cory Baum and Austin Lockwood also caromed shots off the goal's metal frame.

“We wanted to start strong. We'd been waiting a while to get back in action and knew a quick start today would help because (Timberlane) has a good goalie. We generated so many opportunities. We really dominated the field, especially in the first half,” said Londonderry co-captain Anthony Ferrara.

Baum and Ken Desmarais were magnets for any free ball in the midfield. Londonderry moved the ball back and forth around the goal patiently looking for a good shot, generating 28 overall.

Owls keeper Tom Sullivan made 13 saves and stormed out of the net and swallowed up seven chances before Londonderry could generate a shot. Fellow defenders Alec Withee and Benjamin Enos made daring tackles in the shadow of the goal. Matthew D'Arcangelo stifled a couple of potentially lethal Hart breakaway bids.

Desmarais took advantage of a defensive miscue, making it 2-0 at 47:45 before Lockwood tallied his first goal of the season in the 77th minute, thanks to a smart feed from freshman Nate Gaw.

Sullivan nearly had an assist from his keeper position in the 70th minute. The senior dropkicked an 85-yard boot to the foot of Matthew Plante, who took a touch and shot the ball into Krause's stomach, rushing out of the net to eliminate an open look at goal.

eemmerling@unionleader.com