Match Report

Leverstock Green picked up another valuable three points from a very hard-fought battle of a game on Saturday. In a match played in constant rain on a heavy pitch at Arlesey, Fergus Moore’s side held off a spirited challenge from Baldock Town and notched the win thanks to a second half penalty.

Baldock have only won three league games all season, but they took the game to Leverstock from the start and had much the better of the possession in the early stages. However, the Green defence was also in determined mood, and although the home side won a number of corners they did not force a save out of Leverstock keeper Alfie Bonfield.

Leverstock didn’t start to get hold of the ball until 20 minutes into the game. In the 22nd minute Ollie Cox delivered a free kick into the box which was headed over the bar by Kian Wilkes. On 26 minutes Ethan Mooney hit a shot which was comfortably gathered by the home keeper. Leverstock won a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box in the 30th minute, but Cox’s effort was well over the bar. Wilkes required a lengthy period of treatment after a collision with an opponent, but was able to continue after a change of shirt due to blood.

The first half ended goalless despite a lot of effort from both sides, but it was Leverstock who came out looking the brighter side at the start of the second half. Three minutes in a pass from Cox gave Lewis Collins a run at goal, and after a couple of twists and turns in the box, Collins hit a shot which was just about saved by the keeper at his near post. On 56 minutes Collins ran onto a great pass from Dan Weeks and could have had a shot, but instead laid off to Ollie Lawford, who hesitated a second too long and wasn’t able to get his shot away.

A minute later Collins was threatening again with a run down the left edge of the penalty area, and when his progress was impeded by a tug from behind, it was spotted by the referee who pointed to the penalty spot. Lawford stepped up to take the spot kick, and successfully slotted it to the keeper’s right to put Leverstock into a 1-0 lead.

Scott McGleish replaced Lawford in the 65th minute and the veteran almost notched his first goal for the club within a minute of coming on, but his effort went just wide.

Baldock continued to push forward, and Leverstock spent much of the last 15 minutes of the game camped in their own half. There was a chance of a second goal in the 76th minute when the Green side broke away from a Baldock corner. Collins played it through to Wilkes, but his effort went over the bar. Baldock won three successive corners deep into stoppage time, but the Leverstock side kept their concentration and their discipline to hold out for the win and the clean sheet.

Baldock Town (0) 0
Team: 1. Ollie Skinner, 2. Lewis Frankline, 3. Josh Furness, 4. Luke Rowland (15. Callum Mullins 85 mins), 5. Ollie Trott (12. Jacob Green 74 mins), 6. Alex Coppin, 7. Josh Downes (14. Theo Reed 61 mins), 8. Jude White, 9. Ashley Hay, 10. Fin Aldridge, 11. Richard Kursogbor.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Lawford 58 pen)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Harry Bonner, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Lewis Collins, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Ollie Lawford (17. Scott McGleish 65 mins), 10. Ollie Cox (14. Ryan Carruthers 80 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney. Subs not used: 12. Jamie Calvin, 16. Mikkel James, 18. Bradley Robinson.