Leverstock Green completed their pre-season build-up with a 5-1 win at Oxhey Jets in Saturday’s friendly.
The game’s first chance came in the 19th minute when Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica went on a strong run into the box before pulling the ball back to Luke Beckwith, whose shot brought a great save out of the Oxhey keeper. Five minutes later Rio Beach went on a mazy run into the box, but pulled the ball back behind the waiting Stefanoaica.
In the 31st minute a pass from Joe Sadler put Stefanoaica through on goal, but again the keeper did well, coming off his line to save the shot. Finally in the 34th minute Leverstock broke the deadlock as Stefanoaica laid the ball off to Mikey Havill-Tierney, whose shot hit the inside of the near post and went in at the opposite corner. Leverstock keeper Loris Marcimain kept his side in front in the 41st minute with a great save when the Oxhey 7 was through on goal.
Four minutes into the second half Nat Connolly had a run at goal but was again denied by good work from the Oxhey keeper. In the 54th minute the scores were levelled as Marcimain was beaten by a superb long-range strike.
Leverstock went back in front in the 73rd minute, with Brad Robinson setting up Beckwith for a run at goal and a shot which the keeper got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out. It was 3-1 five minutes later with a trialist scoring with a bullet header from a corner. There was another impressive goal in the 81st minute as two 16 year olds combined, with Jamie McIntosh putting Sadler through to slot home confidently. Sadler almost got his second in the 90th minute, but his shot was blocked and the rebound was netted by Havill-Tierney for his second goal of the game.
It was another good performance by the Leverstock side, who have scored 25 goals in six friendlies, but the real tests start on Tuesday with the opening SSML Premier Division fixture away to St Panteleimon.