After a two-week break without a fixture, Leverstock Green played their first match of 2014. However, it wasn't a case of starting the year as they mean to go on as the Green were beaten 4-1 at Harefield United.

Manager Dene Gardner tried a different formation, opting for a more defensive 4-5-1 to start the game, with Stewart King as the lone striker. Defender Elliot Braithwaite, a Green youth team player from eight years ago, signed on dual registration from Hendon made his debut, and midfielder Mark Woolley made his first start following a two-month lay-off from injury.

Leverstock struggled to get anything going in the first half, with King often looking isolated and the home side having control of the midfield. Harefield had some early shots at goal, with Ben Porter shooting over the bar in the 10th minute, and Ryan Kinnane bringing a save out of Kieron Jimmy on 26 minutes. It looked like the game would go into the break goalless, but just seconds into first half stoppage time Harefield found the net as Ryan Ashe drilled a low shot from the edge of the box which flew into the bottom corner past the unsighted Jimmy.

A double change at half time saw the introduction of Chad Pinching and Shakir Agada, who had scored eight goals between them in the club's last four games, and a much more attack-minded formation. However, the goal on the stroke of half time had given Harefield a great boost, and they added two more goals before the Leverstock side had adjusted to their new shape.

On 51 minutes Hussein Warsame ran onto a crossfield ball unchallenged and sent a lob over Jimmy for Harefield's second goal. They should have added a third on 56 minutes when Daniel Fleming was clean through, but shot wide, however the third was only another minute in coming as Ashe curled home a shot from the edge of the box.

The fourth goal on 73 minutes was unfortunate for defender Gavin Smith, as he miscontrolled the ball to leave Fleming clean through again, and this time he placed an accurate lob over Jimmy.

Eventually the Green side rediscovered the attacking flair they had shown over the previous five games, but by then it was too late to save the game. Ten minutes from time a shot from Pinching brought the first serious save out of home keeper Michael Pearce, and on 83 minutes Pinching drove home a shot from the edge of the box to pull the score back to 4-1. Three minutes from time Agada set up Daniel Lake with a great chance, but he shot across goal and wide, and Lake and Agada both had further chances over the closing minutes.

Harefield certainly deserved their win as they played well throughout, but the last ten minutes were much more encouraging for the Green contingent as they finally showed what they are capable of, which they will hopefully do from the start of next week's home game against London Tigers.