Match Report

Leverstock Green exited the Challenge Trophy at the first round stage 2-4 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes against Division Two side New Bradwell St Peter.

It was a frustrating evening, with the Leverstock side having most of the play, but creating few clear-cut chances. In the 9th minute Dan Weeks played a ball down the line to Tom Carter, who ran on to hit a shot that was comfortably saved by visiting keeper Steve Birchenall. Ollie Lawford went close with a shot across goal in the 14th minute, and Lawford had another chance in the 31st minute when a cross from Kane O’Neil dropped for him at the far post, but he hit his shot straight at Birchenall. The first serious test for Birchenall came two minutes later Adiel Mannion made a run into the box and hit a shot which brought a great save out of the keeper.

The second half played out in a similar fashion to the first. On 50 minutes Carter curled a free kick into the box which Birchenall did well to tip over the bar, and four minutes later Carter again brought a great save out of the keeper with a stinging shot. At the other end, Leverstock keeper Matt Fallon didn’t have a shot to deal with throughout the game, having little to do other than come out of his area a couple of times to clear the ball.

As the game went into the final minutes Leverstock had more chances to win it. Kai Stonnell went close with a shot across goal on 82 minutes, and the best chance of all came two minutes from time when a great ball from O’Neil put Ollie Cox clean through, but Birchenall produced a brilliant save to turn Cox’s shot round the post.

So the tie went to a penalty shoot-out, and although Jack Stevens and John Smith were successful with their spot-kicks, a save and a miss combined with New Bradwell scoring all of their first four penalties meant that the visitors progressed to the next round.