Match Report

Leverstock Green are looking even more nervously over their shoulder after a heavy defeat at Crawley Green in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division match. With both London Tigers and Stotfold now within striking distance, it has become even more imperative for the Green side to get something out of their three remaining matches to avoid finishing in a relegation place.

Any hope of the required points coming from this match started to evaporate early, with the home side taking the lead in the 5th minute. Ryan Schmid went up to claim a corner, but couldn’t hold onto it, and Tyler Ingram pounced on the loose ball to shoot home. Three minutes later Schmid did well to save with his legs to keep out a shot from big striker Nimi Ajigbolamu, who was a problem for the Green defence all afternoon.

Leverstock’s best chance came in the 11th minute when a corner from Lewis Collins found the head of Reece Cameron, but the header was saved on the line by home keeper Daniel Gould, who was not greatly troubled for the rest of the match. On 26 minutes Ajigbolamu had another run at goal and looked set to score, but his shot was cleared off the line by Luke Nugent. Schmid saved a shot from Danny Watson on 32 minutes, but four minutes later Watson got on the end of a cross from Mark Bunker to shoot home from close range.

Any faint hopes of a second half Leverstock comeback were extinguished in the 48th minute when Phil Draycott shot home a third goal for Crawley Green. The fourth goal arrived in the 61st minute from the penalty spot, Watson netting his second after Schmid had brought down Ajigbolamu, and three minutes later Draycott registered his second as the home side threatened to run riot.

Fortunately that was the end of the scoring, so there was no further damage to Leverstock’s goal difference, which could still be an important factor. Next up for the Green side is a visit to Potton United on Tuesday night.