Leverstock Green were back in action for the first time in a month, as they visited neighbours Hemel Hempstead Town for a behind closed doors friendly on Saturday.
It proved to be a difficult afternoon for Matt Harding’s side, as they suffered injury problems and were on the end of a 9-0 defeat. The first injury occurred during the warmup as keeper Matt Fallon had to pull out with a groin problem, replaced by Adi Connolly. Hemel’s new artificial surface was unforgiving on players who had not played for a month, as Jamie Ovington had to be replaced within ten minutes and Connor Church left the game injured in the 20th minute.
By this stage Hemel were a goal up, having taken the lead in the 15th minute. A great double save from Connolly prevented a second goal in the 22nd minute, but a minute later the second goal was scored. A superb volley from Danny Webb made it 3-0 in the 31st minute, which is how it stayed until half time.
The start of the second half is when the floodgates started to open as the Hemel side ruthlessly punished mistakes by a rusty Green defence.It was 4-0 in the opening minute of the half and by the hour mark it was 7-0. Towards the end of the game several more Leverstock players were struggling with injuries, and with no more subs available to use they had to continue with ten men. Hemel manager Lee Bircham sportingly took off one of his players to level up the sides, and the final score was 9-0.
Leverstock have another friendly on Tuesday night when they host Chipperfield, and their first post-lockdown league match is at home to Colney Heath next Saturday.