Match Report

Leverstock Green finally broke their scoring duck at the third attempt, and looked set to progress in the Emirates FA Cup, but visitors Ardley United pulled out a last-gasp equaliser to take this Extra Preliminary Round tie to a replay in Oxfordshire on Tuesday night.

For the third time in three games, Leverstock were forced to change their starting line-up after an injury during the warm up – this time it was Luke Peerless who had to drop out with Adiel Mannion taking his place.

A strong swirling wind made conditions difficult for both sides at the start of the game, with chances at a premium early on. In the 12th minute a fine crossfield ball from Oliie Cox found Frankie Jowle, who ran on to hit a shot that was saved by visiting keeper Jake Pritchard. Seven minutes later Pritchard had to deal with a Stephen Dodd cross that was heading for the top corner under wind assistance, plucking it out of the air.

The Hellenic League visitors had their first chance in the 25th minute as a mistake at the back let Twariq Yusuf clean through, but Carl Tasker saved the shot with his legs. Leverstock then had a spell of pressure, but Kane O’Neil’s cross intended for Mannion was cleared by a defender, and a shot from Cox went over the bar. Tasker had a couple of saves to make from Deon Gallacher, before Leverstock had a couple of chances late in the half from free kicks in dangerous positions. The first was curled just wide of the target by Jowle, and the second, taken by John Smith was awkwardly parried away by Pritchard, but no-one could put the ball away in the ensuing scramble.

Goalless at the break, the second half started with the visitors on top for the first five minutes, but the Green defence dealt with this spell of pressure. Leverstock had their best chance so far in the 56th minute when a through ball put Luis Brooker in on goal, but Pritchard was quickly off his line to come out and clear the danger. Two minutes later Brooker was brought down just outside the box to give Leverstock another free kick in a good position, but Smith’s effort was deflected wide.

On 62 minutes Ardley went close when Troy Bryan headed over from a corner, and three minutes later a free kick curled in by Jowle gave Dan Weeks a chance, but the Green skipper headed over the bar. Mannion brought another save out of Pritchard in the 81st minute as he turned in the box and shot but the keeper got down well to save at the post. A minute later Leverstock looked in some trouble as substitute Tobias London got clear of the Green defence before being brought down outside the box by Charlie Milton, who was perhaps lucky to only get a yellow card. However, the resulting free kick taken by Yusuf was deflected wide.

With little to choose between the sides, a replay looked likely, until a breakthrough in the 86th minute. John Smith ran at the Ardley defence, selling a dummy before striking a superb shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net. It was an impressive way for the Green to open their account for the season and left them with about five minutes to hang on for the win.

Sadly it wasn’t to be, as two Ardley subs combined for the equaliser. London delivered an excellent cross from the right touchline and Louis Joyce met it with a powerful header past Tasker, the ball hitting the net approximately one second into stoppage time.

The two sides will meet again at Ardley’s Nolan Oils Ground on Tuesday night, with an away tie at Highworth Town at stake for the winners.