Match Report

Leverstock Green suffered a second straight league defeat without scoring, after a disappointing performance against Leighton Town. The visitors went ahead in the first half and rarely looked like losing their lead for the remainder of the match.

The Green side made a lively start to the match with a few dangerous-looking balls forward, but Leighton keeper Charlie Jones was able to gather them. The first chance of the game was created by Leighton in the 18th minute. Ben Gallant played in Lewis McBride, whose cross found Tom Silford at the far post, but the former Leverstock striker’s shot was cleared off the line by Kane O’Neil. Three minutes later, though, McBride turned in the box and pulled back a low cross which was fired home by Aaron McKee to put Leighton in front.

The visitors were well on top by now and should have added further goals to their tally before the break. In the 27th minute a pass forward allowed Silford to get on the outside of O’Neil, but his shot went wide. On 31 minutes Gallant had the ball in front of goal but was denied by a tackle from Ethan Flanagan.

There was a lengthy stoppage for injury treatment to two players. Green keeper Rob Partington suffered an injury when diving at the feet of McBride to claim the ball, meanwhile Silford had gone down painfully on the edge of the box. Both players rejoined the game after treatment, but neither looked comfortable, Partington was able to turn away a shot from McBride on 41 minutes, but came down painfully again from another save two minutes later. Both players left the game at half time.

Partington’s place in goal was taken by Luke Preedy, while Jack Stevens came on to take Preedy’s place in midfield. Leverstock created some chances early in the half, with Salim Sahnoun having a shot cleared off the line from a 47th minute corner, while Alex Condon headed over the bar from a Sam Nair free kick on 54 minutes. Condon and Mark Smith both had shots blocked in a goalmouth scramble five minutes later.

In general, though, Leighton defended comfortably and were content to hold onto their lead, and Leverstock weren’t able to create enough clear-cut chances to get back into the game.

Leverstock now take another break from league action with a Herts Senior Cup 2nd Round tie at home to Watford on Tuesday night, before next weekend’s tough visit to Histon in the FA Vase Third Round.