Match Report

Since reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Vase in season 2010/11, Leverstock Green had gone five seasons without winning a single FA Vase tie, but they broke that run in style with a convincing 4-0 win at Harefield United in Saturday’s Second Round Qualifying tie.

With the exception of the suspended Ross Adams, Leverstock manager Paul Hunt had his full squad available for the match at Preston Park, against a side now playing in Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League following relegation last season. Leverstock started the match well and had a number of chances to take an early lead. In the 13th minute a rasping shot from Curtis Donaldson was deflected just wide, and seconds later a cross dropped for George Biggadike, who shot over the bar from six yards out.

There was a rare chance for the home side in the 17th minute from a quickly-taken free kick as Darrell Harris’ pass gave Karl Swan a run at goal, but his eventual shot was wide. Three minutes later Leverstock went close again when a pass from Shane Wood went over a defender’s head to put Karl Davidson through on goal. Davidson’s shot beat keeper Jacob Ballheimer, but was cleared off the line by defender Henry Clarkson, who was involved again on 31 minutes when he headed a dangerous cross from Donaldson over the bar, and again a minute later when he turned a cross from Donaldson into his own net, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Lewis Bowers.

Finally in the 35th minute Leverstock made their deserved breakthrough as Biggadike exchanged passes with Donaldson in a break down the right before hitting a shot from a narrow angle past Ballheimer for the opening goal.

The Green side went into the break with a slender 1-0 lead, but within five minutes of the restart they were in full control of the game. On 49 minutes a cross from Davidson found Jonathan Lacey at the far post, and Leverstock’s top scorer again showed composure as he slid the ball under the diving Ballheimer to extend his scoring streak to five first team games and Leverstock’s lead to 2-0.

Just over a minute later a pass from Lacey put Donaldson through on goal. Donaldson tried to chip Ballheimer, but the keeper reached up an arm to palm it away. The rebound fell nicely for Bowers, who rolled the ball home from the edge of the box for a 3-0 Leverstock lead.

It became 4-0 on 57 minutes as Brima Johnson somehow kept possession of the ball on a determined solo run past several defenders before slotting the ball past Ballheimer, who got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent the ball rolling back over the line.

Karl Davidson came close to adding a fifth goal in the 69th minute as he was through on goal and sent a lob over Ballheimer, but it came back off the post. Davidson was first to the rebound and had a second effort, but this one went across goal and wide. A minute later Davidson had another chance in the box, but laid it back for Donaldson, who shot just wide. There was another near miss two minutes from time as substitute Oliseh Okwudi headed just wide from a corner.

Paul Hunt was very pleased with his side’s display – their third straight win in all competitions – and they now await the outcome of Monday’s draw for the First Round proper. The Green side now have a well-deserved week’s rest before next Saturday’s visit to Biggleswade United for a league match.