Match Report

Leverstock Green have the chance of ending their season with some silverware after they reached the final of the West Herts St Mary’s Cup with a 3-1 win over Amersham Town in Thursday night’s semi-final at the Lords Builders Merchants Stadium. It was a good open game with both sides having their share of chances, but Leverstock took their chances more ruthlessly, which proved to be the difference.

Amersham had the ball in the net from a goalmouth scramble in the 9th minute, but it was disallowed for a handball. Instead it was Leverstock who opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Alvin Kyeremeh chased the ball down to the byeline and crossed into the six-yard box where Chris Blunden was there to stab home his 19th goal of the season from close range.

It could have been 2-0 in the 29th minute when a pass from Ethan Mooney put Richard Ennin through on goal, but Ennin was denied as he tried to take the ball round keeper Ryan Lehane. The loose ball came out to George Mitchell-Gears, who hit a shot just wide. On 35 minutes Austin Byfield made the first of several great saves as he kept out an Amersham effort from close range.

On 41 minutes Leverstock went close again when a corner was flicked on to Luke Durnin, whose shot struck the outside of the post. A minute before the break Leverstock got the crucial second goal when Mooney pulled the ball back from the bye-line to the edge of the penalty area where Kyeremeh met it with a superb strike into the corner of the net.

It was 2-0 at half time, but Amersham almost pulled a goal back within 20 seconds of the restart as a shot went across goal and just wide. Leverstock then had a chance for a third in the 49th minute when a cheeky backheel from Kyeremeh put Ennin through on goal, but his shot went over the bar.

Amersham were certainly not giving up, and were denied a goal back twice in quick succession in the 70th minute. Firstly a stinging shot from Bradley Sweeney brought a superb save out of Byfield to tip the ball over the bar, and seconds later another long-range effort was kept out by Byfield as he got the faintest of touches to turn it onto the bar.

Leverstock were visibly tiring, and made a couple of substitutions before scoring the decisive third goal in the 78th minute. It was man-of-the-match Kyeremeh again who found the net, heading home Nagheeb’s corner from six yards out. Amersham continued to battle, and got a consolation goal in stoppage time as Harry Bennett netted from the penalty spot, but the final whistle followed shortly afterwards.

Leverstock will now meet Tring Athletic in the final at Vauxhall Road on Monday 8th May, kick-off 3.00 pm.

Leverstock Green (2) 3 (Blunden 19, Kyeremeh 44, 78)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Alvin Kyeremeh, 3. Rio Beach (16. Kurainashe Musanhi 83 mins), 4. Dan Weeks, 20. Luke Durnin, 6. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 7. Richard Ennin (14. Elgeniy Daalberg 79 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden (15. Toby Head 76 mins), 10. George Mitchell-Gears (12. Ryan Carruthers 75 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney (17. Danny May 83 mins).
Amersham Town (0) 1 (Bennett 90+4 pen)
1. Ryan Lehane, 2. Charlie Line, 3. Jamie Speer, 4. Luke Preedy, 5. Jonny O’Sullivan, 6. Daryl Brown, 7. Harley Sells (14. Riccardo Clarke-Rowe 68 mins), 8. Andrew Brennan, 9. Nick Kerley (16. Bradley Sweeney H/T), 10. Louis Bircham (15. Eden Mejzini 81 mins), 11. Harry Bennett. Subs not used: 12. Louis Stead, 17. Ayoub Enajar.