Match Report

It’s now nine games without a league win for Leverstock Green, although they should have got at least a point from Saturday’s game against high-flying Ware. Leverstock played very well, but conceded two goals from set piece headers and they did not make the most of the chances of the chances they created.

Leverstock started the game strongly, with Joe McCarthy looking their most dangerous player. McCarthy had a shot turned away by Ware keeper Ben Nightingale in the 4th minute, and was denied again by Nightingale in the 13th minute from a shot after a run into the box.

Having started the game well, Leverstock found themselves behind in the 23rd minute, and it was a familiar tale as Ware scored from a corner. Theo Ofori’s header went in off the post to put Ware into a 1-0 lead.

Leverstock almost equalised within a minute, as McCarthy got to the bye-line and pulled the ball back for Jeffrey Sekyere, whose shot from close range was straight at Nightingale’s legs. However, they didn’t have to wait much longer for the equaliser. In the 26th minute a flick on from McCarthy found Sekyere in the box, and Sekyere showed some neat footwork before planting a chip over Nightingale that went in at the far post to level the scores at 1-1.

Harry Way did well to turn away a long-range Ware shot in the 32nd minute, and two minutes before the break a pass from Dan Pett put Iker Noguera Leon in on goal, but Nightingale blocked his shot.

The scores were level after a competitive first half, but Leverstock were caught cold in the opening minute of the second half. A free kick from midway inside their half was floated to the far post, where big defender Joshua Okotcha found space to send a bullet header past Way for a 2-1 Ware lead.

Again Leverstock responded well to going behind. In the 51st minute a cross from Sekyere found McCarthy, who met it with a header that hit the bar and went over. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica came off the bench in the 64th minute to add to Leverstock’s attacking threat, and five minutes later he went close with a backheeled effort from Sekyere’s cross that was saved.

In the 77th minute Sekyere sent the ball out wide to Stefanoaica, who delivered a cross that found McCarthy in front of goal but again Nightingale pulled off a great save to keep his shot out. In the 89th minute a cross from McCarthy found Stefanoaica with a looping header that went just over the bar. Leverstock kept pushing until the end for an equaliser, but it would not come.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Sekyere 26)
1. Harry Way, 2. Dan Casey, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Josh Dooley, 5. Thomas Georgiou, 6. Nat Connolly (12. Ryan Carruthers 80 mins), 7.Joe Mccarthy (14. Ethan Mooney 90+2 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jeffrey Sekyere, 10. Juan Pablo Velasco (19. Jack Allen 74 mins), 11. Iker Noguera Leon (15. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica 64 mins). Sub not used: 16. Marcus Warren.
Ware (1) 2 (Ofori 23, Okotcha 46)
1. Ben Nightingale, 2. Finley Titchmarsh, 3. George Alfieri, 4. Sami Moutawafiq, 5. Joshua Okotcha, 6. Bendie Idikayi, 7. Theophilus Ofori (14. Caiden Remy-Dee 71 mins), 8. Herbie Townsend, 9. Reece Beckles-Richards (12. Gabriel Chapps 81 mins), 10. Rechan Esprit (15. Max Granville 71 mins), 11. Samuel Kifwasima-Mayuma. Subs not used: 16. Jay Rolfe, 17. David Sota.