Match Report

Leverstock Green’s under-18s travelled to Berkhamsted to start their SCFYL Corinthian Division season, just three weeks after playing there in the FA Youth Cup, and the result was identical with Ross Bargent’s side again running out winners by the odd goal in five in a see-saw match.

Leverstock were forced into an early change as Tom Rutherford went down after a foul challenge from the Berko keeper in the 16th minute, and the game was stopped for 6 minutes while Rutherford was stretchered off, although the injury was later found to be not serious. Rutherford was replaced by Stan Kenyon, making his competitive debut. When play resumed, Dan Payne hit the post from the resulting free kick. There was another four minute stoppage in the 33rd minute for treatment to a Berko player after a collision with Green keeper Sean Lockehart. Berko took the lead in the 41st minute as a cross came in from the left and Godfrey Opoku rose to head home past Lockehart. Berko still held their lead at the break after eight minutes of stoppage time played, like much of the half, in torrential rain.

Leverstock turned the game around with two goals within two minutes early in the second half. In the 53rd minute Payne won the ball off a defender on the edge of the Berko box and played a one-two with Callum Moore before skilfully chipping the keeper for the equaliser.

100 seconds later Leverstock were in front as a throw from Archie Roberts found Moore inside the box, and Moore turned before pulling back a low cross from the bye-line which was met by Kenyon sticking out a boot at the near post to divert the ball into the net.

Berko levelled the scores at 2-2 in the 71st minute as a free kick lofted into the box was finished by a touch at the near post. However in the 83rd minute Leverstock were back in front with a tremendous goal. A cross into the box was headed away, but only as far as Shad Rasha, who laid the ball off sideways for Charlie Hobbs to hit a fierce first time shot from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the net.

Leverstock held out throughout another six minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game for a fantastic result, which was even more impressive as keeper Sean Lockehart was carrying a dead leg for much of the game but stayed on the pitch with no sub keeper available.

Berkhamsted (1) 2 (Opoku 41, TBA 71)
Leverstock Green (0) 3 (Payne 53, Kenyon 54, Hobbs 83)

Starting XI: Sean Lockehart, George Edwards, Billy Hoar, Charlie Hobbs, Reece Marchant, Finn McLean, Callum Moore, Daniel Payne, Archie Roberts, Thomas Rutherford, Ellis Webb.
Subs used: Stanley Kenyon, Callum Maloney, Jack Nicoll, Shad Rasha.

Full game footage from Veo can be viewed here:
https://app.veo.co/matches/20220908-lev-v-bweko-667c1bf9/