Match Report

Leverstock Green ended a run of six games without a win with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Biggleswade United in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division game at a warm and sunny Pancake Lane.

After a quiet opening to the game, Leverstock took the lead in the 14th minute. Jonathan Lacey blocked a clearance by the visitors and it fell into the path of Curtis Donaldson, who ran on to the edge of the penalty area and hit a superb shot into the top corner of the net for his 26th goal of the season.

Liam Jahn denied Biggleswade an equaliser three minutes later when he turned away a free kick from Gareth Hunt, however, the equaliser came in the 19th minute from a free kick further out by the right touchline. As the ball was floated in towards the far post, it was allowed to drop, and Simen Moller came in unchallenged to hit a low first time shot past Jahn to level the scores.

Four minutes later Moller looked to be through on goal, but Jahn came out of his area to chest the ball away, and an effort on the rebound landed wide of the goal. At the other end on 28 minutes a great pass from Lewis Bowers gave Lacey a run at goal, but his shot was tipped over by visiting keeper Robbie Ponting.

The scores were level at half time, and Biggleswade almost went in front in the opening minute of the second half, but a floated shot from Charlie Joy went just over the bar. Leverstock regained the lead in the 53rd minute when Donaldson was put away by a ball down the right and got to the bye-line, where he pulled it back for Danilson Vicente to slot home his first goal for two months.

Vicente had another attempt on 59 minutes with a volley from distance, but it was saved by Ponting, and seconds later Vicente and Lacey combined to set up a shot for Reynaldo Carbon which was deflected wide.

The remainder of the game saw few chances at either end. The visitors played the ball around well, but the Leverstock defence held firm until the end, and there was to be no repeat of Tuesday night’s late collapse. Nine minutes from time there was a first team debut for under-18 midfielder David Serinolli, making three players on the pitch along with Lacey and Luke Nugent who have stepped up from the under-18s this season.

Leverstock have five league games remaining, the first of them at home to Oxhey Jets on Tuesday night.