Match Report

Leverstock Green bagged a crucial three points from Saturday’s Southern League trip to Hadley. Once again they took a single-goal lead into a lengthy period of stoppage time, but this time the Leverstock side held out superbly to claim a win that lifts them out of the relegation places.

There could have been a bright start for Leverstock when a ball from Nat Connolly put Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica through on goal in the 2nd minute, but he was caught and dispossessed by a defender before he could get a shot away. Tuesday night’s Man of the Match Carmicheal Uchenna was an early departure, having to leave the game in the 8th minute with a hamstring problem, but on the plus side his replacement was Rio Beach, returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.

Hadley’s first chance came in the 10th minute when a pass from Finley Aldridge put Romeo Meoded in on goal, but his effort was lofted over the bar. In the 21st minute a cross from Stefanoaica found George Mitchell-Gears at the far post, but he couldn’t keep his header down. Five minutes later a great pass from Segun Adedipe allowed Joe McCarthy to get behind the last defender, but his run into the box from a narrow angle saw him forced out of play. The home side went close again in the 29th minute when Aldridge got on the end of a cross at the far post but headed wide.

The game was still goalless at the break, and Hadley had the early pressure in the second half, with a goalmouth scramble in the 48th minute before Leverstock eventually cleared the ball from their box. Leverstock keeper Ashton Broome-Alexander produced a superb save in the 60th minute to turn a header from Prince Kandolo round the post, and again four minutes later when a pass put Aldridge through on goal, Broome-Alexander coming off his line to dive at the forward’s feet and claim the ball.

Leverstock were unlucky not to take the lead in the 70th minute. Iker Noguera Leon was set free down the right touchline and delivered a superb early cross into the box which was met by the run of Jeffrey Sekyere, whose powerful header beat the keeper but came back off the post. Broome-Alexander pulled off a third great save in the 80th minute, going down low to turn away a shot from Richard Ennin.

In the 82nd minute Sekyere was threatening again in the box but couldn’t get a shot away, and neither could Leon or McCarthy, but crucially McCarthy drew a challenge which brought him down and the referee awarded Leverstock a penalty. Sekyere handed over penalty duties to Leon on this occasion, and the Spaniard made no mistake with the spot kick to put Leverstock into a 1-0 lead.

Sekyere might have added a second in the 86th minute, but his solo run at goal ended with a shot wide. Instead, Leverstock had to go into an indicated six minutes of stoppage time with just a single-goal lead and Tuesday night’s last-gasp disappointment still on their minds. They had to face a couple of corners and long throws as the Hadley side piled on the pressure, and the stoppage time ended up going into an eighth minute, but this time there was no lapse of concentration and the referee eventually blew the final whistle to herald a fully-deserved win.

Hadley (0) 0
1. Charles Taylor, 2. Hermes Gbio, 3. Alvin Kyeremeh (16. Mwita Mgoyo 78 mins), 13. Romeo Meoded, 5. Hedley Ogbebor, 6. Prince Kandolo, 17. Richard Ennin, 8. Jordan Edwards (14. Timothy Okwusogu 65 mins), 9. Lenny Asamoah, 10. Finley Aldridge (18. Isaac Stones H/T), 11. Luke Alfano.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Leon 82 pen)
1. Ashton Broome-Alexander, 2. Kome Kawimbe, 3. Carmicheal Uchenna (12. Rio Beach 8 mins), 4. Dan Pett, 5. Olusegun Adedipe, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Joe McCarthy (18. Jack Allen 90 mins), 8. Nat Connolly, 9. Jeffrey Sekyere, 10. George Mitchell-Gears (14. Dan Casey 74 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (15. Iker Noguera Leon H/T). Sub not used: 16. Marcus Warren.