Leverstock Green opened their pre-season programme at Pancake Lane with two games against Northwood, both games finishing as draws.
The first game between the two reserve sides kicked off at 12pm. The young Leverstock side took a 2-0 lead early on, both goals scored by Luis Brooker, the first from the rebound after his penalty had been saved. However, Northwood hit back to level the scores and then went in front to go into the break with a 3-2 lead. Midway through the second half an excellent move going from one end of the field to the other was completed by a strike from Jordan Mulholland which levelled the scores at 3-3, and that was how the game finished.
The two first teams then kicked off at 3.15pm. First team manager Matt Harding was alongside assistant Mick Vipond, returning to the Leverstock dugout for the first time in ten years, and the side was a mixture of young players returning from last season and new signings, several of whom were also returning to the club after a ten year break.
The visitors, managed by former Green management team Scott Dash and Mark Royal had a few ex-Leverstock players in their side, and one of them, Alex Witham, hit the post with a shot in the 10th minute. Four minutes later Leverstock went close when Ollie Cox, formerly with Berkhamsted, hit a long-range shot over the bar. In the 20th minute Jake Williamson cleared off the line after a mix-up between keeper and defender left a Northwood forward to go clean through.
In the 37th minute Leverstock keeper Matt Fallon, previously with Stotfold, produced a good save to turn a shot wide, and five minutes later pulled off another good save. Between those chances Leverstock had their best chance of the half, but they were twice denied by former Green keeper Rob Partington, who saved a free kick from John Smith and the rebound effort from Frankie Jowle.
The second half saw a number of changes in the Leverstock side, including the return of Carl Tasker in goal. Northwood took the lead in the 64th minute from a breakaway, with Kweku Conrad-Lucan shooting home after a solo run. However, two minutes later the scores were level when the referee awarded a penalty for handball and John Smith put away the spot kick. There were chances for both sides in the remaining minutes but 1-1 was how it finished.
First team starting XI: Matt Fallon, Harry Barrett, Zak Howells, Dan Weeks (capt), Jake Williamson, Steve Hawes, Lucas Preston, Jack Stevens, Frankie Jowle, John Smith, Ollie Cox. Subs included: Carl Tasker, Louis Griffiths, Will Bisney, Luke Peerless, Bryn Rigalsford.
