Match Report

After five straight cup ties, Leverstock Green returned to league action and returned to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 win at Biggleswade United. It was far from a classic performance by the Green side, but a single first half goal and another clean sheet added up to three valuable points. There was a new signing on display in Jack Stevens, signed from Berkhamsted. Stevens has previously played in the Leverstock under-18 side, while also playing in the first team at Kings Langley.

Leverstock almost went in front with just over a minute played. Alex Condon got on the end of a free kick with a header that brought a good save out of home keeper Dean Bull, and Chris Blunden put the rebound wide. Biggleswade had their first effort on goal in the 9th minute, a shot from Dylan Logan which was gathered by Arvydas Kacinkevicius.

The game’s only goal came in the 16th minute. A pass from Luke Preedy should have been cut out by a defender, but the defender slipped to leave Jonathan Lacey through on goal, and the Green’s top scorer produced a typically cool finish to slot the ball past Bull into the net.

Lacey had another run at goal in the 28th minute, but this time his shot went just wide. Five minutes later the home side had a chance when Logan played the ball in to Sam Holmes, but his shot from a narrow angle hit the frame of the goal. Two minutes before the break Biggleswade were forced into a substitution, and seconds later they were reduced to ten men when Liam Andrews was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Alex Witham. Leverstock went close again in first half stoppage time when a free kick from Lacey found Condon, whose header across goal went just wide of the far post.

Three minutes into the second half Lacey went close again as he rode a challenge inside the box before hitting a shot just wide. In general, though, it was a frustrating half for Leverstock, who could not get their passing game going and came under a lot of pressure from the home side’s ten men.

Kacinkevicius produced two great saves in quick succession just before the hour mark to preserve his side’s lead, firstly turning away a shot from Kane Farrell, and then getting down well to turn a low shot from Rafe Goodman around the post. Leverstock’s best chance of a second goal came in the 79th minute when Lacey had a run down the middle and could have finished himself, but instead laid off to Blunden, whose shot was kept out by a great sliding block from Jaiden Irish.

While their forward play may not have been great, the Leverstock defence, led by Jude Bell in the absence through injury of Shane Wood, looked solid, and when a Biggleswade free kick in a dangerous position deep into stoppage time was hit wide by Tash Andrews, the three points were secured.

Leverstock have two further league games this week, the first of them being away to Cockfosters on Tuesday night, kick-off 7.45 pm.

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