Match Report

Leverstock Green were unable to build on Saturday’s win over St Margaretsbury as they crashed to a heavy home defeat against Holmer Green at Pancake Lane on Tuesday. Defensive mistakes in the first half contributed to their downfall, although Holmer were the better side and certainly deserved their win.

The visitors should have taken the lead in the 9th minute from a long throw into the box, but Matt Wooster shot over the bar from close range. Three minutes later Leverstock had three attempts at goal from a corner, but all three were blocked.

Holmer’s opening goal in the 25th minute came as a result of a short back pass. Matt Evans came out of his area and got his boot to the ball first, but was then out of position as the ball ran to Leo Blackman, who slotted home into the empty net.

Two minutes later Leverstock went close to an equaliser from a Brima Johnson long throw, but Jay Caines headed wide at the far post. Another defensive mistake in the 34th minute presented Pawel Kotwica with the ball in front of goal, and the Holmer striker gratefully accepted the chance to shoot past Evans for their second goal. Four minutes later it became even worse for Leverstock as Blackman turned neatly on the edge of the area and shot home a third goal for Holmer. Blackman might have completed his hat-trick two minutes later but Scott Bonner cleared his shot off the line.

Leverstock had a mountain to climb in the second half, and it became even higher on 54 minutes when Kotwica lobbed Evans for his second and Holmer’s fourth goal.

Two quick substitutions saw Scott Burge and Luke Preedy come off the bench, and suddenly Leverstock had a flurry of chances. On 58 minutes Chris Marsh was unlucky to hit the bar from a free kick 30 yards out. Two minutes later Burge was put clean through but his shot was saved by the keeper. A minute later Reece Cameron put David Lawrence in on goal, but his shot went across the face of goal. Finally on 63 minutes Cameron and Lawrence combined to put Burge in again and this time he shot home to pull a goal back for Leverstock.

That was as good as it got, though, as little else was created in the remaining minutes against a well-organised Holmer defence, and it was Holmer who looked more likely to add to their tally with a couple of chances on the break.

Leverstock play their penultimate league match on Saturday when they travel to Northwood F.C.’s ground to face London Tigers.