Match Report

Having won Saturday’s game at Baldock on the strength of their second half performance, this time Leverstock Green found themselves on the wrong end of a second half recovery as Colney Heath came from behind to win this SSML Premier Division game with two late goals.

Leverstock survived a couple of early scares, with the ball having to be headed off the line in the aftermath of a corner in the 5th minute, but in general the game was rather scrappy for the first half hour. They took the lead with a well-worked goal in the 38th minute. James Hall played a superb lengthy crossfield ball to find Brima Johnson near the corner flag, and Johnson’s cross was bundled into the net from close range by Guiseppe Delgaudio, scoring for the second successive game.

In the second half Leverstock were playing up the slope, and came under pressure from the home side for long periods. Colney Heath had a great chance to equalise in the 52nd minute when George Devine was brought down in the box by Jamie Ovington and the referee awarded a penalty, but Devine’s spot kick was not the best and Matt Fallon dived to his right to save it.

There were two new signings on the bench for Leverstock this evening, and one of them, Toby Shoyoye, came on in the 68th minute to replace Delgaudio, who had just been somewhat fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a poor tackle.

Colney Heath continued to put pressure on the Leverstock goal, winning a succession of corners and free kicks around the box, and eventually they made one of their corners pay in the 79th minute. The ball was cleared to the edge of the penalty area where substitute Hadley Gleeson connected with a first time shot that found the bottom corner of the net to level the scores at 1-1.

Leverstock had little sight of goal during the second half, but in the 84th minute they had a great chance to go back in front. Will Bisney’s pass put Shoyoye through on goal, but former Green keeper Matt Evans came quickly off his line to save Shoyoye’s shot and deny him a goal on his debut.

That proved crucial, as the home side won another corner two minutes later, and this time Bailey Stevenson pounced on a loose ball to volley home the goal that put his side in front at 2-1.

Leverstock pushed forward during stoppage time and had a couple of dangerous situations inside the Colney box, but they were unable to find the goal to save the game, and Colney Heath took the three points which were deserved on their second half performance.

Colney Heath (0) 2 (Gleeson 79, Stevenson 86)
Team: 1. Matt Evans, 2. Dominic Knaggs, 3. Max Jessop (15. Hadley Gleeson 72 mins), 4. Temi Bankole, 5. Jay Lovell, 6. Martin Standen, 7. Chris Griffin, 8. Dan Fitzgerald, 9. Bailey Stevenson (12. Sean Walsh 87 mins), 10. George Devine, 11. Harry Shepherd. subsnot used: 14. Dominic Edwards, 16. Tino Muchawaya, 17. Kyle Rahho.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Delgaudio 38)
Team: 1. Matt Fallon, 2. Brima Johnson, 3. Will Bisney, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Jamie Ovington, 6. Steve Hawes (12. Kian Wilkes 89 mins), 7. John Smith, 8. James Hall, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (17. Toby Shoyoye 68 mins), 10. Sidney Gueye (14. Mickey Shuttlewood 61 mins), 11. Frank Jowle. Subs not used: 15., Connor Church, 16. Thomas Adie.