Leverstock Green had to dig deep again to come up with another cup victory as they triumphed in extra time over Division Two side Risborough Rangers in the SSML Challenge Trophy. The Green looked to be on their way through with a 2-0 half time lead, but a spirited fightback by the home side took this Third Round tie into the extra 30 minutes.

Steve Heath again had a depleted squad to select from, with Ricardo Biggi added to the injury list after Tuesday's game and several other players unavailable.

The game was competitive from the outset and Leverstock had the first effort on goal in the 11th minute when Lewis Pritchard's shot was saved by home keeper James Tovey. On 20 minutes Risborough had a chance when Callum Mansell's through ball put Jonny Horne in behind the defence, but Gareth Tinsley saved Horne's shot comfortably.

Leverstock only had two outfield subs on the bench, and they had to use one of them after just 30 minutes when Bekim Culaj replaced Dan Griggs, who was having problems with a tight hamstring. However, the Green were playing well and took the lead in the 36th minute. Lee Bircham curled over a free kick from the left which was headed clear, but only as far as Max Farrelly, who shot home at the second attempt after his first effort was blocked by a defender.

Further goals looked likely before the break. On 40 minutes Farrelly's run set up Ioan Vranceanu in the box, and the Romanian twisted and turned past a defender but had his shot saved. A flick from Pritchard gave Adam Hallissey a run at goal, but defender Andy Hird came in with a great tackle to deny him, and Ross Miller headed wide from the resulting corner.

When the second goal did finally arrive, it was a bolt from the blue. Pritchard was a good 35 yards from goal when he looked up and decided to have a crack at goal, and his shot flew over the outstretched arm of Tovey and in off the underside of the bar for a stunner of a goal to send the Green into half time with a healthy 2-0 lead.

Having soaked up some pressure from the home side early in the second half, Leverstock almost added a third in the 58th minute when Louis West's header from a corner was cleared off the line. However, within a minute the ball was at the other end. A shot came in from the edge of the box which Tinsley saved, however Ben Williams followed up to net the rebound and put Risborough back in the game.

There could have been an equaliser five minutes later when Lee Haynes' free kick found Hird, but he shot over the bar from a good position. The scores were eventually levelled in the 75th minute, with a poor goal from the Green perspective. A short clearance from Bircham put the defence under pressure, and when the ball was crossed in Miller tried to head clear but only headed it up in the air. Eventually the ball dropped for Williams in front of goal and he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to smash home the equaliser.

The closing minutes of normal time were hard work for a tiring Green side as Risborough piled on the pressure, but they showed the character to hold out for extra time, in which they made the most of the fresh legs of substitute Junior Owusu-Akonor.

In the opening minute of extra time Owusu-Akonor made a run at goal before threading a pass through to Pritchard, but with only Tovey to beat, Pritchard sidefooted the ball inches wide of the post. The goal wasn't long in coming, though. In the third minute of extra time Bircham played a free kick into the box, Pritchard headed it down to Owusu-Akonor, who slotted home into the corner of the net to put Green back on top at 3-2.

Risborough refused to lie down, and went close a couple of times during the second period. Tinsley did well to save a shot from James Shrimpton, and an effort by Mansell went just wide of the post. Leverstock held on for the win, though, which mean they still have an interest in four cups going into the new year. They will face Chesham United Reserves away in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Trophy.