Match Report

Leverstock Green came away from their visit to second-placed Hertford Town with an excellent point, which was well-deserved after a battling performance in an entertaining game in front of a big crowd.

Both full backs were still injured from last Saturday’s game at Wembley, but Karl Thomas and Ross Adams both did a great job in filling in at right and left-back respectively. There was a return to the club for former under-18 player Luke Preedy, who went straight into the starting line-up.

Leverstock made a good start to the match, creating a chance in the 2nd minute. Thomas got the ball forward to Curtis Donaldson, who turned and shot inside the box but hit the side netting. Ben Andreos had a couple of chances for Hertford in the 14th minute, but was wide with both a scissor kick and header.

There was another chance for Leverstock in the 17th minute as Donaldson hit a shot which Hertford keeper Jayden Purdue couldn’t hold onto. David Lawrence got to the loose ball, but Purdue had recovered and blocked his shot. A clearance from Purdue almost put Tyler Hatherly through on goal in the 26th minute, but Liam Jahn was quickly off his line to get to the ball first and clear, and Jahn also came out of his goal to clear when Brett O’Connor was threatening on 36 minutes.

It was Leverstock who took the lead with 40 minutes played. George Biggadike brought the ball forward and passed to Preedy, who played a great ball to put Donaldson through on goal. Purdue got a hand to Donaldson’s shot, but couldn’t keep it out as Donaldson became the second Leverstock player to hit 20 goals this season.

There was almost a second goal a minute before the break as Jonathan Lacey squared to Tremayne Charles, who hit a quick shot on the turn, but Purdue saved. Instead the scores were levelled in first half stoppage time as Hertford kept pressure on the Green goal following a corner. Andreos nodded the ball down to Phil Lowen on the edge of the box, and Lowen connected with a crisp strike that beat Jahn and sent the sides into the break level at 1-1.

Leverstock continued to impress in the second half, and probably had the better chances to win the game. On 51 minutes another pass from Preedy put Donaldson in again, but he didn’t get enough on his shot to trouble Purdue. On 59 minutes a free kick from Adams went through all the Hertford defenders to leave Thomas with a clear sight of goal, but Purdue produced a great save to keep out Thomas’ shot and another effort from Lacey seconds later. On 66 minutes Donaldson blocked a clearance from Purdue and crossed for Charles, who headed just wide. At the other end Jahn produced a great save to keep out a shot from Dan Ferrigno on 71 minutes.

There was great anticipation amongst the Leverstock followers when a one-two between Lacey and Donaldson put Lacey through on goal, but the Green’s top scorer was just wide with his effort from a narrow angle. Over the closing minutes it was Hertford who had all the pressure in front of a large and noisy home contingent, but the Leverstock defence held their discipline and their resolve to the end and claimed a notable point.

Next up for Leverstock is a visit to Leighton Town on Tuesday night.