Match Report

A goal in the last minute of stoppage time meant that Leverstock Green came away from an eventful match at Wembley with nothing. The Green side had come from behind twice to eventually lead 3-2, but were unable to hold onto the result despite playing against ten men for the whole of the second half.

Wembley took the lead in the 11th minute of Saturday’s SSML Premier Division game, after a rash challenge from Karl Thomas gave away a free kick just outside the penalty area. Zaied Sabti’s curler over the wall was tipped onto the post by Green keeper Mark Berg, but the home side were quicker to react to the rebound, with Adrian Dinham netting the loose ball.

Leverstock hadn’t had much of a look-in over the opening half-hour, but they were back level when Curtis Donaldson intercepted the ball on the halfway line, and had the freedom of the entire Wembley half as he ran through all alone to shoot past home keeper Przysmslaw Mifrzwa, who got a hand to the shot but couldn’t keep it out.

Wembley could have gone back in front two minutes later when Dinham was through on goal, but shot over the bar. Leverstock went close on 39 minutes when Donaldson curled a free kick into the box, but Jack Watts didn’t get quite enough on his header to divert it inside the post. Wembley regained the lead in the 42nd minute when the Green defence couldn’t clear their lines from a corner, and Jermaine Heron eventually bundled the ball home.

There was almost an immediate response from the Leverstock side as Jonathan Lacey was through on goal, but Mifrzwa saved Lacey’s shot with his boot. However, Wembley were in trouble again in first half stoppage time when Mifrzwa was stranded on the edge of the box as Lewis Bowers headed the ball over him. Lacey chased the ball in, but was prevented from scoring by a push in the back from defender Adam Humphries. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and also showed Humphries a straight red card. Lacey ensured that Wembley got the full punishment as he netted the spot kick to send the sides into the break level at 2-2.

Half time saw three substitutions made, two by Wembley and one by Leverstock, with Danilson Vicente replacing Thomas. Leverstock almost struck in the opening minute of the half as Lacey was through on goal, but Mifrzwa saved, and also kept out a follow-up effort from Vicente. A further change saw Kendall Allen injured full-back Casey Linsell on 50 minutes. Two minutes later Berg made a good save to keep out another Wembley free kick.

Leverstock had another good chance on 63 minutes when Bowers was through on goal and tried to lay off to Vicente, but the ball just ran away from him. However, a few seconds later a pass from George Biggadike put Lacey through, and Leverstock’s top scorer made no mistake as he slotted home his 22nd goal of the season to put his side in front for the first time.

Wembley were denied an equaliser on 69 minutes when Watts put in a good tackle on half-time sub Joe Wright, who was through on goal. However, Wembley kept up the pressure, and two minutes later Wright got up at the near post to meet a corner with a header that looped back into the far corner of the net.

The game was still level at 3-3 as the game went into stoppage time.There was controversy as Bowers was clean through and set to score but flagged offside despite the ball having clearly come to him off the boot of a Wembley player. The decision affected the concentration of the Green side, and with the game in the last of the indicated four additional minutes, they gave the ball away near the halfway line. Wembley pushed forward in numbers, and as the ball was put across the face of goal, it was the other half-time sub Conor Carroll who applied the finishing touch to ensure that his side took all three points.

It was a highly disappointing end to a frustrating afternoon for the Leverstock side, but they will hope to get back to winning ways on Tuesday night when they host Oxhey Jets.