Match Report

Leverstock Green bounced back from their heavy defeat on Saturday to record a famous result on Tuesday night as they beat Stevenage 1-0 at Pancake Lane to advance into the quarter-finals of the Herts Senior Cup. It was an excellent performance all across the pitch from the Leverstock side against a young Stevenage side, and the result was fully deserved.

The only two half-chances of the first half were created by Leverstock. In the 15th minute Curtis Donaldson crossed into the heart of the six-yard box but it was headed out by defender Jacob Croud. Three minutes later Jonathan Lacey set up Ross Adams with a chance but he shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

At the other end the Leverstock defence was dogged and disciplined, putting in well-timed tackles and blocks to ensure that Stevenage did not get a clear sight of Liam Jahn’s goal.

In the second half Stevenage began to try their luck from distance, with Liam Brady being the first to go close with a shot just wide on 49 minutes. However, it was Leverstock who broke the deadlock with a goal in the 61st minute. Ross Adams delivered a cross from the right which the keeper parried away, but only as far as Lewis Davis, who faced a couple of defenders on the line but managed to calmly shoot into the net from six yards out to score his first goal for the club.

Stevenage hit back, with both Nathan Kerr and Mick Cregan hitting shots from outside the box just over the angle of post and bar within five minutes of the goal.

It should have been 2-0 to Leverstock in the 71st minute, as Lewis Bowers played a superb pass to put Donaldson through on goal, but despite having a couple of opportunities to get a shot away, Donaldson kept on running across the face of the penalty area until his eventual effort was blocked by a defender. Two minutes from time Karl Davidson played a one-two with Donaldson before going close with a shot that deflected wide off a defender.

In the last minute of stoppage time Leverstock had to defend a free kick in a dangerous position. Luke Slater’s shot curled over the wall, but Jahn got down to gather the ball and hold onto it under pressure, denying Stevenage from their only shot on target all night.

Leverstock’s reward is a trip to Cheshunt in the quarter-finals in the new year. On Saturday they return to league action with a visit to London Tigers.