Match Report

Leverstock Green earned another three points as an injury-time strike from Jonathan Lacey clinched a 3-2 win over Edgware Town in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division thriller at Pancake Lane.

Scott Dash was again missing a few players due to suspension and unavailability, mostly at the back, and Luke Nugent was drafted in from the under-18s to make his first team debut at right-back.

Tremayne Charles looked the main threat for the Green side in the early stages, making a run to the bye-line and chipping the ball across the face of goal in the 9th minute,and shooting over the bar four minutes later after running onto a pass from Ross Adams. In the 21st minute Edgware were penalised for a foul on Danilson Vicente which was just outside the box, but Curtis Donaldson produced one of his trademark free kicks, curling the ball into the top corner of the net to put Leverstock 1-0 up.

Donaldson almost made it 2-0 a minute later with a shot from 25 yards, but visiting keeper Cain Davies turned it round the post. Edgware equalised somewhat against the run of play in the 25th minute with a bolt from the blue. Nyu Bogaire connected with a tremendous first-time shot from distance which flew into the top corner of the net and gave Mark Berg no chance.

Leverstock were denied again in the 33rd minute when Charles ran onto a pass from Vicente, but his shot was saved by Davies. Three minutes later the game was turned around completely when Dan Pett played a low ball into the box to Ethan Mooney, who turned on the edge of the six-yard box and slotted a shot under Berg to put Edgware 2-1 up.

Edgware took their lead into the break, but within two minutes of the restart Leverstock were level. Lacey played a fine pass to put Adams through on goal, and Adams produced a composed finish for the equaliser. From then on either side could have won an end-to-end game, although it was Edgware who had the better chances. Berg saved with his boot to deny Adem Ali on 53 minutes and Jay Molloy ballooned the ball over the bar from a good chance on 67 minutes. Two minutes earlier Nugent had been replaced by Shane Wood, making his return from injury.

Edgware somehow failed to score from a goalmouth scramble in the 77th minute, hitting the post and having an effort saved from close range. On 86 minutes Casey Linsell headed off the line and seconds later Fergus Moore headed just over the bar. Over the closing minutes Leverstock had their chances, with Oliseh Okwudi and Wood both going close from good opportunities. In the 89th minute Donaldson stood over another free kick, a few yards further out than his earlier effort. This time Davies parried away Donaldson’s effort, and Wood put the rebound into the side netting.

The game went into stoppage time with the scores still level, and in the opening minute Edgware missed another great chance with a shot going wide from the edge of the box. They ended up paying the price as Leverstock found a winner with three minutes of stoppage time played. Carbon made a run into the box, but his shot was saved. Lacey put the ball across the face of goal, but it eluded Charles, who was running towards the near post. Edgware still couldn’t clear, and Charles was able to get the ball across across goal, and this time it dropped for Lacey, who drilled a low shot into the corner of the net to win the game 3-2.

It was tough on Edgware, who probably deserved a draw, but for Lacey it was his 20th first team goal of the season, a remarkable achievement for a player who is still only 17 years old.

There is little time for Leverstock to rest on their laurels, as they are back in action on Tuesday night, at home to Holmer Green in another SSML Premier Division game.