Leverstock Green's run of defeats continued as they were beaten by two second half goals against Harefield United at Pancake Lane on Saturday. Hopes were high that the team could build on the encouraging display at Hoddesdon on Tuesday, but lack of a goalscorer plus familiar defensive frailties proved their downfall again.

The visitors had the first chance of the game in the 6th minute when a cross to the far post found Harry Howell coming in unmarked, but Green keeper Dan Blacktopp did well to save Howell's shot with his legs. Leverstock had a chance three minutes later when Harefield keeper Michael Pearce was slow to come out to collect a ball and Jon Davies nipped in, but his header was saved.

Mark Campbell picked up an injury early in the game and struggled on until the 29th minute, but had to be replaced by Dean Roper. In the last minute of the half Harefield tried a free kick routine that looked straight off the training ground. Paulo Cicero chipped the ball into the box where Ryan Egan was running in unchallenged, but his shot went across goal and was headed to safety by Mark Shadbolt.

The game went into the second half still goalless, and it was the Green who had the first chance of the half. Five minutes in Tunde Owolabi and Alex Foster combined to set up Davies, but Pearce turned his shot wide.

However, it was Harefield who took the lead in the 56th minute, reprising the exact same free kick routine they had tried at the end of the first half. The Green defence hadn't learned anything as Egan again ran in unchallenged to meet Cicero's chip, and this time his shot found the bottom corner of the net.

Things got worse for Leverstock three minutes later when they conceded yet another goal from a corner, Mark Sargeant coming in to head home and put Harefield into a 2-0 lead.

A couple of chances midway through the half raised hopes of a Green revival. Davies struck the post with a fierce shot from a short corner routine on 65 minutes, and three minutes later Glenn Thompson had a shot saved by Pearce after Davies had been thwarted inside the box.

There was to be no comeback though, and it was Harefield who looked more likely to add to their tally late in the game. Blacktopp produced a double save to deny Jack Reader and Leon Thomas six minutes from time, and Reader was clean through two minutes from the end but saw his shot hit the post.

The defeat leaves Leverstock still rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division table, and with another tough game coming up on Tuesday night against Colney Heath at Pancake Lane.