Match Report

Leverstock Green and Berkhamsted had to settle for a point apiece after an incredible Dacorum derby at Broadwater on Tuesday night. Ten goals were shared between the two sides, with Leverstock having led 2-0, 3-1 and 4-3, but eventually rescuing a point two minutes from time when they were down to ten men.

There had been some half chances for both sides before the scoring began in the 21st minute. Jonathan Lacey charged down a Berko clearance to win a corner. Casey Linsell’s corner found Liam McCrohan at the near post with a glancing header that went in at the far post. In the 33rd minute Linsell again found McCrohan from a corner, but this time the header went over the bar.

However, two minutes later a good pass from Luke Preedy found Lacey, who slipped the ball past a defender to put Reece Cameron clean through, and Cameron produced a composed finish to slot the ball past Carl Tasker for a 2-0 Leverstock lead. The two-goal cushion only lasted for two minutes, though, as Matt Bateman’s ball into the box found Alex Campana alone two yards out to pull a goal back.

In the 40th minute a pass from Brima Johnson gave Lacey a run at goal. Lacey took the ball down to the bye-line and put over a low cross which was deflected into his own net by Max Farrelly to put Leverstock 3-1 up. Again, though, the two-goal cushion did not last for long as Bateman – who is still Leverstock’s top scorer this season – headed home a corner two minutes before the break to put Berko back in the game again at 3-2 down.

The second half saw no let up in the goalmouth action at both ends. Lacey was denied a goal in the 49th minute when his shot was blocked on the line and a follow-up effort from McCrohan was also blocked. The scores were levelled in the 53rd minute when Farrelly made up for his earlier own goal by heading home a corner for 3-3.

Less than a minute later, though, a pass from Chris Marsh put Lacey through to outpace the last defender and slot past Tasker and put Leverstock back into the lead at 4-3.

Berko had a chance to level in the 60th minute with a free kick in a dangerous position, but Mackenzie Taylor kept it out. A minute later it was almost 5-3 when Lacey put a great ball across goal which Ross Adams just failed to make contact with as he slid in. Taylor produced a point-blank save to keep the Green ahead in the 66th minute, but four minutes later a run from Bateman was ended by what looked like a good challenge from Shane Wood in the box, but the referee somewhat harshly awarded a penalty. Dan Jones put away the spot kick to level the scores at 4-4.

Two minutes later Lacey went close to putting Leverstock in front again, shooting just wide of the far post after a dazzling solo run. However, on 77 minutes it was Berko who took the lead for the first time as a great ball from Ashton Campbell put substitute Ashley Morrissey through to shoot home their fifth goal.

Leverstock’s hopes took a further dive six minutes from time as they were reduced to ten men. David Lawrence appeared to kick out at a Berko player who was on the ground, and the referee showed Lawrence a straight red card. However, the game wasn’t over yet. Two minutes from time Leverstock substitute Luke Marsh delivered a superb cross from the right touchline, and Chris Marsh came in to head home from close range and level the scores up at 5-5.

Still there was a lengthy period of stoppage time to play during which the Green were mostly penned in their own box, and in the third minute of stoppage time Taylor produced the outstanding save of the night to tip over a goalbound shot from Dan Jones. Garry Jones also hit a shot over the bar as Berko pressed for a winner, but Leverstock held out for their point, and in truth it would have been cruel on either side to have lost the game in the end.

So ended a marvellously entertaining local derby in front of a crowd of 157, with Jonathan Lacey named as Leverstock’s man-of-the-match after a virtuoso performance that brought a goal and two assists. Leverstock became the first side this season to put five goals past Berkhamsted, and it was the fourth successive draw between the two sides, with the previous three meetings having all ended 2-2.

Leverstock face another tough match on Saturday as they travel to third-placed Leighton Town.