Match Report

After five league games without a win, Leverstock Green returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 result over Tring Athletic in Saturday’s Dacorum Derby at Pancake Lane. It was an evenly-contested game on a warm afternoon, and both sides hit the woodwork, but Leverstock secured the points with a goal from top scorer Rawn Seale 15 minutes from time.

The early stages of the game had the feel of an end-of-season affair, with little in the way of chances at either end. Leverstock keeper Alfie Bonfield made the game’s first save in the 23rd minute, turning away Ronan Hutchins’ shot from a narrow angle for a corner. Tring enjoyed something of a period of pressure at this time, with a goalline clearance from Rio Beach keeping them out three minutes later.

Leverstock’s first effort on target was a shot from Ethan Mooney in the 37th minute, but it was comfortably saved by Tring’s debutant keeper Ollie Keil. Five minutes later Rawn Seale showed some great footwork inside the box to carve out a shooting chance, but Keil pulled off a good save to turn it round the post. From the resulting corner Seale connected with a header that hit the bar, and the ball somehow stayed out in the ensuing scramble.

The game was goalless at half time and continued as a tight struggle in the second half. On 57 minutes Seale had a chance at a run into the box and pulled the ball back for Mooney, but his shot was blocked. Four minutes later Mooney had an even better chance when a pass from Dan Pett put him clean through, but Keil stood his ground and saved with his legs. At the other end two minutes later Bonfield had to turn a shot from Harrison Cornick round the post.

Leverstock had another golden opportunity on 67 minutes when a great pass from Kian Wilkes put Seale through, but his attempted lob over Keil failed to beat the keeper. However on 75 minutes Seale had another chance when he got on the end of a long kick from Bonfield to go through on goal. It looked as though the chance had gone away when he was surrounded by defenders, but Seale showed the persistance to carry on and stab the ball home to put his side 1-0 up.

Tring pressed for an equaliser and had a couple of near misses. On 82 minutes George Carbery shot across goal and wide from a good chance, and a minute later Charlie Miller hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box. A draw would probably have been a fair result on the balance of play, but Leverstock held out for the win, with the three points ensuring that they will finish at least eighth in the Premier Division table with two games to play.

Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Seale 75)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Ollie Cox (16. Brad Robinson 54 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes (12. Jack Allen 76 mins), 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Ryan Carruthers (17. Sean Walsh 66 mins), 11. Nagheeb Ibrahim. Subs not used: 14. Jamie Calvin, 15. Ethan Holt.
Tring Athletic (0) 0
Team: 1. Ollie Keil, 2. Harrison Cornick, 3. Adam Sawyer, 10. Adiel Mannion (6. Lenny Armstrong 68 mins), 12. Eli Hearn, 13. George Carbery, 14. Jack Stevens, 17. Leo Farruch, 18. Charlie Miller, 19. Godlove Oppong, 20. Ronan Hutchins. Subs not used: 8. Ali Mohiuddin, 16. James Doherty.