Match Report

Leverstock Green suffered another defeat on Saturday as they went down 2-0 away to London Tigers. The home side were reduced to nine men for the final 12 minutes of the game, but the Green side lacked the necessary cutting edge to find the net and get themselves back into the game.

There was another new goalkeeper making his debut for Leverstock today in 19 year old Ryan Schmid, a former member of Stevenage’s under-18 side. Less than ten minutes into the game Schmid was requiring treatment as Tigers forward Michael O’Donnell left his boot in as Schmid dived to claim the ball. Schmid was OK to continue after treatment, but there was no card shown to O’Donnell.

The game was feisty throughout, but there was little goalmouth action early on. Leverstock’s first effort on goal came in the 24th minute when Luke Preedy won the ball in midfield and played it through to Reece Cameron, whose attempted curler went over the bar. Four minutes later the Green found themselves behind as O’Donnell was given too much time in the box and was able to square the ball for Ardolan Ghamuar to shoot home from six yards.

Late in the half there was some action in the Tigers penalty area. Alex Witham pushed forward and laid off to Mark Smith, whose shot was deflected wide. From the resulting corner Ethan Flanagan got up to head the ball towards goal, where Cameron was waiting but could only nod the ball over the bar.

The second half started as the first had ended, with Leverstock having a corner. Jay Kossifos’ cross was headed away, but only as far as Witham, who hit a shot over the bar. A minute later there was another good effort from Kossifos just over the bar. The Leverstock side was starting to play some good football, and on 56 minutes Witham played a one-two with Cameron before playing it through to Kossifos, who slipped the ball just wide.

However, Tigers doubled their lead in the 61st minute as a looping header from O’Donnell left Schmid stranded and unable to keep it out. Leverstock came close to pulling a goal back eight minutes later as Witham hit a fierce shot which came back off the bar.

On 72 minutes the home side were reduced to ten men, as Ashkan Abbasi was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, having already been carded for a similar offence in the first half. Six minutes later they were down to nine men, as substitute Adam Smith received a straight red card for pulling back Cameron when he was clean through on goal, having only been on the pitch for eight minutes.

For the remainder of the match Tigers put their nine men behind the ball, and despite their numerical advantage Leverstock were unable to find a way through. Witham had a shot saved by the keeper, and both Kossifos and Cameron had efforts on goal that went over the bar, but that was as good as it got.

Leverstock’s next match is on Tuesday night, when they are at home to title favourites Biggleswade F.C.