Match Report

Leverstock Green’s run of three league games against sides in the top four opened with a home defeat against New Salamis, who climbed to the top of the league with this result. It was a game of few chances, and Leverstock played some good football at times, but were unable to create many clear-cut chances against an experienced and well-organised defence.

Thinags could have been different if a decision had gone their way in the 6th minute. Rawn Seale chased a through ball and was bumped off the ball by visiting keeper Sam Soutar, who was way out of his goal. It looked as though the foul occurred just inside the angle of the penalty area, but the linesman insisted it was outside, and Leverstock were awarded a free kick just outside the box instead of a penalty. Ollie Cox’s shot took a deflection but Soutar gathered the ball.

Soutar was in action again three minutes later as Seale ran onto a through ball but couldn’t get a shot away before the keeper dived at his feet to claim the ball.

Leverstock had seen more of the ball in the early stages, but it was New Salamis who took the lead in the 22nd minute with their first real effort of the game. A cross from the right found Elijah Ogunseye, whose shot looped over Alfie Bonfield into the corner of the net.

The Green side almost found a response within two minutes. Elgeniy Daalberg made a great run into the box and put the ball across the face of goal where Seale was coming in at the far post, but defender Freddy Tandon got there just ahead of Seale to clear the ball. In the closing minutes of the half Seale had another half chance when the ball dropped for him on the edge of the six yard box, but his shot was blocked by a defender.

The second half was similarly short on chances, with Leverstock still struggling to get any change out of the New Salamis defence. Their task was made even harder when the visitors added a second goal in the 73rd minute, a disappointing goal to concede as Charne Lemba rose unchallenged at the far post to head home a corner.

Lewis Collins and Paplamin Jawara both came off the bench to make their return from injury, and with Scott McGleish coming on for the last 15 minutes there was a flurry of late chances. In the 78th minute two successive corners had to be cleared off the line, and there was a clear chance for skipper Dan Weeks, who suddenly found himself furthest forward and with only the keeper to beat, but a defender recovered quickly to charge down Weeks’ shot. In the 82nd minute a long throw into the box was flicked on to Collins at the far post, but he rushed his shot and ballooned it over the bar. Two minutes later Jack Allen got on the end of a free kick but headed over. In the 87th minute Leverstock had a free kick in a dangerous position outside the box, but Jawara couldn’t keep his effort under the bar.

Having survived the spell of pressure unscathed the visitors almost added a third in the 88th minute, but Derek Asamoah’s shot was kept out by the post. Their two goals proved to be enough to claim the three points.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Bead Robinson, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Jack Allen, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Elgeniy Daalberg (17. Scott McGleish 76 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Ryan Carruthers (14. Paplamin Jawara 56 mins), 11. Ollie Cox (12. Lewis Collins 66 mins). Subs not used: 16. Paul Marks, 18. Fergus Moore.
New Salamis (1) 2 (Ogunseye 22, Lemba 73)
Team: 1. Sam Soutar, 2. Andreas Chambi, 20. Charne Lemba, 6. Freddy Tandon, 3. Luke Foster, 4. Ryan Hervel, 8. Jordan Sanderson, 10. Antonio Michael, 11. Elijah Ogunseye, 9. Charlie Georgiou, 7. Harrison Georgiou. Subs used: 15. Deniz Mehmet, 16. Derek Asamoah, 17. Joseph Staunton. Not used: 12. Steven Wade, 14. Arti Krasniqi.