Match Report

Leverstock Green came from behind to claim another excellent point against Hadley, last season’s playoff semi-finalists and expected to do very well again this season. It was the first time this season that Leverstock had conceded the first goal in a league match, but they fought back well and deserved the point.

There was a debut in central defence for Thomas Georgiou, signed on a month’s youth loan from Watford.

Leverstock had the game’s first chance in the 7th minute. A free kick from Juan Pablo Velasco found Callum Neal with a looping header that was tipped over the bar by keeper Charles Taylor. Three minutes later Rio Beach did well to clear a Hadley cross off the line, but the ball was not cleared, and Finlay Aldridge hit a superb shot from the edge of the box that flew into the net to put Hadley into a 1-0 lead.

They might have doubled their lead two minutes later when Luke Alfano hit a shot from a similar position which went just over the bar. Leverstock had some chances to get back on level terms. In the 18th minute Josh Dooley got a flick to a Rio Beach cross that went just over. In the 25th minute Nat Connolly’s cross found Iker Noguera Leon with a header that was straight at Taylor. Two minutes later a pass from Leon gave Joe McCarthy a run at goal. McCarthy’s eventual shot was saved by Taylor and Jeffrey Sekyere could not get to the rebound.

In the 35th minute a cross from Velasco missed everyone and hit the far post, bouncing away from goal. In first half stoppage time Velasco delivered a great cross which went just over McCarthy’s head.

Hadley had a chance to double their lead five minutes into the second half, but Harry Way pulled off a great save to turn Isaac Stones’ shot wide. Two minutes later Velasco went close with a low free kick that went just wide. In the 68th minute Leverstock had another free kick in a dangerous position, this time it was Leon that stepped up but his shot went just over.

Leverstock finally got their deserved goal in the 71st minute. Dooley played a great ball down the left which put McCarthy through, and he cut inside from the touchline before finishing superbly past Taylor to level the scores at 1-1.

Hadley had a golden opportunity to win the game in the first minute of stoppage time. Leverstock were caught on the break after giving the ball away in midfield, and Alphonso Kennedy received the ball in space with the goal at his mercy, but Way pulled off a superb save to keep his shot out. Leverstock might have snatched the game in the last minute of stoppage time as a momentary chance opened up for Joel Onu, but he could not lift the ball over Taylor.

Leverstock Green (0) 1 (McCarthy 71)
1. Harry Way, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Josh Dooley, 5. Thomas Georgiou, 6. Nat Connolly (12. Dan Casey 76 mins), 7. Joe McCarthy (16. Aldo Petagine 90+2 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jeffrey Sekyere, 10. Juan Pablo Velasco, 11. Iker Noguera Leon (18. Joel Onu 82 mins). Subs not used: 14. John Gyabaah, 15. Ryan Carruthers.
Hadley (1) 1 (Aldridge 10)
1. Charles Taylor, 2. Alvin Kyeremeh (17. Cheik Zidouemba 76 mins), 3. Callum Ismail, 4. Cameron Ferguson, 5. Luke Massingham, 6. Hedley Ogbebor, 7. Antonio Paone-Michael, 8. Jordan Edwards (14. Peter Rosemin 88 mins), 9. Isaac Stones (13. Prince Kandolo 75 mins), 10. Finley Aldridge (18. Alphonso Kennedy 75 mins), 11. Luke Alfano (16. Romeo Meoded 30 mins).