Match Report

Leverstock Green put up an excellent response to last Saturday’s defeat to Cockfosters as they travelled to newly-promoted Edgware Town and came back with their first away win of the season. After an evenly-contested first half, the Leverstock side dominated the second half and eventually got the deserved three points through a Curtis Donaldson double.

The Green side was missing a few players due to various commitments, including regular keeper Liam Jahn, but Callum Woods took his place between the sticks and turned in an excellent display. Woods’ first task was to parry away a close-range shot from Adem Ali in the 3rd minute. At the other end in the 12th minute Edgware keeper Sam Styles turned a shot from Lewis Bowers round the post. Two minutes later Donaldson ran at the Edgware defence and put over a cross which Ryan Luke couldn’t get a clean header on.

Paul Hunt was forced into a change in the 25th minute with George Biggadike replacing the injured Rowland Smith, but Leverstock continued to play well. On 29 minutes Zak Howells made a run into the box and pulled the ball back for Donaldson, but he shot wide. Woods produced two good saves to turn a shot from Jack Smith round the post on 34 minutes and deflect a shot from Ali over the bar three minutes later.

The game was goalless at the break, but there was a warning for the Leverstock side just a minute after the restart as a cross from Jay Molloy found Mikkel James unmarked at the far post, but he headed wide. However, from then on it was the Green side that took control of the match. On 49 minutes Ryan Luke got on the end of a cross from Jonathan Lacey but headed wide. On 57 minutes Bowers and Donaldson combined on the break with the latter going through on goal, but not getting a clean shot away. A minute later Lacey went on a solo run but his shot was saved.

In the 64th minute Donaldson played a free kick into box, which was headed away, but only to Brima Johnson, whose shot was parried into the air by Styles. The loose ball bobbled around the penalty area before falling to Donaldson, who shot over the bar. Finally in the 74th minute Leverstock got their deserved goal after a nice build-up which finished with Ross Adams squaring into the six-yard box for Donaldson to slot home into the net.

A second goal was still required to settle the nerves of the Leverstock contingent, and it arrived six minutes later. Donaldson pushed forward into the Edgware half, and despite having options on either side, Donaldson struck a low shot from 20 yards which found its way into the bottom corner of the net.

Man of the match Zak Howells could have added a third goal three minutes from time when he was clean through, but Styles parried his shot and Bowers put the rebound wide. Woods was determined to maintain his clean sheet, and did so with a great save in the last minute to turn over a fierce shot from Ali.

Howells and Woods were among the many excellent performances on the day, which also included Shane Wood and Brima Johnson, both making a crucial return to the side after being unavailable last week.

Paul Hunt said “We needed not to lose the game in the first 25 minutes, and we grew into the game and got better as it went along. Everything went to plan”.

Leverstock again have no midweek fixture this week. Next Saturday they are at home to Leighton Town in a league match.