Match Report

Leverstock Green became the first team to reach the quarter-finals of this season’s SSML Challenge Trophy with a comfortable 3-0 win in Tuesday night’s third round tie at Division One side Winslow United.

Scott Dash made a few changes to the side in his first match since being officially appointed as first team manager. In came new signings Mark Berg, Jack Watts and David Lawrence, all of whom have played at the club before. Former under-18 keeper Berg is set to step in during the upcoming absence of Liam Jahn, and he made a flawless start this evening with a clean sheet.

Also back in the side was Curtis Donaldson after his one-match suspension, and it took a little over four minutes for Donaldson to get on the scoresheet as he ran onto a pass from Lawrence and beat a defender before shooting home the opening goal.

Four minutes later there was almost a second as Donaldson ran onto a ball down the line from Casey Linsell and crossed to the far post for Lewis Bowers, who hit his shot into the ground. Berg was brought into action for the first time in the 12th minute, saving a shot from Ben Baines with his legs. Donaldson went close again on 34 minutes when he got on the end of a cross from Karl Davidson with a diving header that went just wide. Winslow won a series of corners during a period of pressure late in the half, but Berg and his defence were able to deal with the danger.

Two early goals in the second half put Leverstock firmly in control of the game. Just over a minute after the restart a pass from Donaldson put Lawrence clean through to finish well for a 2-0 lead. In the 56th minute a pass from Lawrence set up Kane Axten to shoot home the third goal from the edge of the penalty area.

Winslow had a couple of chances midway through the half, including a shot which hit the bar, but Leverstock’s progress was never in doubt, and in the last eight they will be at home to a Division Two side, either Enfield Borough or Unite MK.

Leverstock now have an 11-day break before their next game, which is at home to in-form Hertford Town in the league on Saturday 26th November.