Match Report

On a very wet night at Pancake Lane, Leverstock Green reached the semi-finals of the SSML Challenge Trophy for the first time in 13 years. They overcame a rocky start to the match and eventually took control of the quarter-final against Division Two side Enfield Borough.

Once again Scott Dash’s options were limited, with three players back in the side that were missing on Saturday, but without four players who were cup-tied having played in previous rounds for Colney Heath. The visitors made an impressive start to the match, with the pace of forward Olakunle Akinwande looking particularly threatening.  Akinwande had already had one penalty shout turned down before going down under challenge from Jack Watts in the 5th minute. This time the referee did point to the penalty spot, and Akinwande stepped up to take the kick himself, but Liam Jahn pulled off a brilliant one-handed save to keep the ball out.

Jahn was brought into action again in the 10th minute, diving to pull off a great save from Alfie Hatch, then recovering to save the follow-up effort from Akinwande. However, in the 15th minute Leverstock were caught out by a quick break again, and Henderson Browne had chances to shoot from the edge of the box, but eventually laid the ball off for Akinwande to slot the ball home and give Enfield a lead that they certainly deserved at that stage.

Immediately after the goal Leverstock were forced into a change, with Watts succumbing again to the illness that had kept him out on Saturday. Oliseh Okwudi came on to play up front, and Lewis Bowers moved into the back four. Leverstock needed a break to get them going, and they got it in the 19th minute. Jonathan Lacey curled a corner into the near post, and David Lawrence got up to head home the equaliser.

On 25 minutes Casey Linsell had a go from a free kick 20 yards out, but the keeper gathered it comfortably. Two minutes later a pass from Ross Adams put Lacey through but he was denied by a great tackle by a defender. A minute later a cross from Adams found Linsell at the far post but his header was deflected wide. From the resulting corner, though, Lacey played it into the near post again, and this time Kendall Allen got on the end of the cross with a looping header that dropped in at the far post to put Leverstock 2-1 up.

By this time the Green defence had become more adept at handling the lively Enfield forward line, with Bowers giving another excellent display at the back. This continued through the second half, with Leverstock now looking the more likely side to score. A superb pass from George Biggadike put Lacey through on goal on 55 minutes, but the keeper did well to come off his line and save. The third goal eventually arrived on 73 minutes, with Adams involved in the build-up as Okwudi produced a cool finish to slot the ball past the keeper.

In the last minute a great pass from Allen put Lacey through on goal again, but his run was ended by a foul inside the box. Lacey got up to take the penalty himself, adding a fourth goal which may have been a little harsh on an Enfield side that continued to look capable throughout the second half.

As the final whistle went Leverstock became the first side to claim their place in the semi-finals, where they will face an away tie at either Hadley, Edgware Town or London Colney.