Match Report

Visitors Potton United came out on top in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division match, which was played in dreadful conditions. On an already cold day, heavy rain throughout the first half became even heavier in the second half as both sets of players struggled on the Pancake Lane pitch. Despite the conditions it was an entertaining game in which Leverstock twice took the lead, only to quickly lose it both times, before Potton scored two second half goals to claim the three points.

There was yet another new name in the Leverstock goal, with new signing Frankie Atwell being brought in to replace Caolan Doyle-Creamer, who became the third Green keeper on the injury list in midweek. Atwell made an uncertain start, dropping a cross from Danny Webb in the 4th minute. The ball dropped at the feet of Gareth Hunt, who hit an instant shot but Jude Bell kept it out with a superb goalline clearance. Two minutes later Webb was clean through on goal but Atwell stretched out an arm to deflect his shot away.

In the 8th minute Leverstock broke away after Potton messed up a free kick routine, but Luke Nugent’s ball across goal found no-on on the end of it. A minute later at the other end Ryan Don hit a shot just wide for Potton. Leverstock went close in the 22nd minute when a curled shot from Alex Witham went just over the bar, but two minutes later they were ahead. Reynaldo Carbon took advantage of an underhit back pass to go clean through and slot a neat finish past Potton keeper Tyler Josephs.

However, the lead only lasted two minutes, as Jack Newland crossed to the far post for Webb to head an equaliser for Potton. Webb had another chance a minute later, but Atwell produced a good save to turn his shot away. Leverstock went back in front in the 32nd minute with an unusual goal, as Mark Smith curled in a corner towards the near post and it went straight in without touching anyone else. Again, though, the Green could not hold onto the lead as Potton equalised three minutes later. Brima Johnson was hesitant in dealing with a cross from the left, and it allowed Webb to get in a shot from close range past Atwell for 2-2.

Half time saw Leverstock reorganise their defence with Shane Wood having to leave the game. However, five minutes into the second half the visitors went in front for the first time as the Green defence was caught short by a Potton breakaway. Leverstock only had two back, who both got in saving tackles, but Potton had a third player on the overlap as Webb came in to shoot home his second goal.

Leverstock twice went close to an equaliser, with Witham hitting a shot just wide in the 63rd minute, and a minute later Carbon delivered a cross from the left touchline which hit the bar and rebounded back into play but eluded all the Green players around the six-yard box. Atwell made a couple of good saves to keep Leverstock in the game, and on 68 minutes made another good save to keep out a shot from Jim Burnside, but the ball was not cleared and Webb pounced to shoot home the goal which completed his hat-trick and put Potton into a 4-2 lead.

Still there were further chances for Leverstock, but they were not getting the luck. A pass from Goode put Lewis Davis through on 72 minutes, but his shot was saved and Carbon’s effort from the rebound was blocked. A minute later Witham got on the end of a cross with a volley that went just over the bar.

Such were the conditions that the referee blew for time exactly on 90 minutes, and both sets of players immediately sprinted for the dressing rooms. Leverstock’s next game is at home to London Colney on Tuesday night, but that one will be very much “weather permitting” after the battering that the pitch took today.