Match Report

Leverstock Green returned to winning ways in style on Tuesday night, playing some of their best football for weeks as they made the short journey to Colney Heath and returned with the three points from a 4-1 win.

As in Saturday’s match at Cockfosters, Leverstock got off to a great start by taking the lead in the third minute. There was some controversy about the goal, which came from a free kick delivered into the box by Casey Linsell. Colney keeper Charlie May went up to claim it, but dropped the ball under challenge from a Leverstock player. The loose ball hit the post and Shane Wood netted the rebound, leaving the home side in disbelief as the referee allowed the goal to stand.

Also as at Cockfosters, the lead did not last for long. In the 11th minute a pass from Fusion Queta split the Leverstock defence and allowed James Ewington to go straight through the middle and slip the ball past Liam Jahn for the equaliser. Colney might have gone in front three minutes later as Carl Osbourne intercepted a crossfield pass from Zak Howells and ran clean through, but Jahn saved his shot at the near post.

The remainder of the half was an even contest, with Ross Adams and Karl Davidson both having shots parried away by May, while Lawrence Obrunfemi lashed a shot just over the bar for Colney on 29 minutes. Two minutes later Curtis Donaldson shot just wide after being put through by a great pass from Davidson. Lewis Bowers had to leave the game through injury in the 35th minute, being replaced by Danilson Vicente, playing against his former club.

Leverstock had the slope in their favour in the second half, and three minutes in they had a great chance from a free kick on the edge of the box after Vicente had been fouled, but Donaldson put the ball over the bar. On 51 minutes a cross from Davidson found Adams at the far post, but he couldn’t quite divert the ball inside the post.

Jonathan Lacey came off the bench in the 56th minute, and it didn’t take long for the 17 year old to turn the game in Leverstock’s favour. On the hour a ball from Howells found Lacey inside the box with his back to goal, and in one movement Lacey turned and rifled a shot past May to put the Green back in front at 2-1.

Davidson had the chance to add a third three minutes later when he was clean through and sent a lob over May, but it landed just wide. In the 65th minute the Leverstock defence had to stand firm during a period of Colney pressure during which Jahn made a great save to parry away a shot from Ewington. When the ball was finally cleared the Green side broke away quickly, with Lacey threading a fine pass to Donaldson, who had the option of laying off to Vicente, but instead opted to cut inside and take on another defender before hitting a shot that May got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out.

Now 3-1 ahead, Leverstock began to turn on the style and should have added further goals. On 68 minutes a pass from Lacey put Vicente through, but his shot was saved. On 77 minutes Donaldson set up a chance which either Vicente or Davidson should have finished, but the latter put the ball over an empty net. In the 83rd minute Wood had a free header at the far post from a corner but headed wide. Finally in stoppage time the fourth goal arrived as Lacey hit the ball across goal and Vicente finished emphatically from a yard out to score his first goal for the club.

The result and the nature of the performance should give the side plenty of confidence going into Saturday’s Dacorum derby at home to Tring Athletic.