Match Report

After eight games which yielded no wins and just one point, Leverstock Green finally put a much-needed three points on the board with an excellent 2-1 win at Wembley on Saturday.

The Leverstock side has seen many changes over the last couple of games, with under-18 and reserve players being elevated to the first team, and a couple of new signings today in Kerran Lataille, on loan from Northwood after they signed him from Aylesbury, and Luis Brooker from AFC Dunstable’s development side.

Wembley have been one of the division’s form sides recently, and had not lost in seven games. They started the game the stronger, with some early pressure, but the Leverstock defence did not allow them a clear chance at goal. Their first near miss came in the 23rd minute when Charlie Weir struck a free kick just over the angle of post and bar.

Having soaked up the early pressure, it was Leverstock who took the lead in the 26th minute. Jay Kossifos sent over a dangerous cross from the right touchline, which took a deflection off defender Ethan Tyrer. Keeper Montel Joseph pulled off a great one-handed save to prevent the own goal, but the rebound dropped for Jamal Howe, who slotted home for his first goal for the club.

Having taken the lead, it was Leverstock who had the better of the play for the remainder of the half, although Wembley could have equalised on the stroke of half time when Richard Brown squared to find Alex Ward in front of goal, but he screwed his shot wide.

Wembley went close again five minutes into the second half when Weir headed over the bar from a free kick, but in the 57th minute they were reduced to ten men. A pass from Mark Smith put Kossifos through, but he was upended by defender Ilyas Mohamed just outside the box. As last man, it could potentially have been a straight red for Mohamed, but as he had already been booked, the yellow card he received was enough to see him dismissed. Leverstock did not make the most of the resulting free kick, with Kossifos hitting it straight into the wall.

Leverstock looked to be doing a good job of holding onto their lead, but just two minutes after they had made a double substitution, bringing on Brooker and Luke Preedy, Wembley pulled out an impressive equaliser. As a cross came over from the left, Charlie Weir had his back to goal, but pulled off an acrobatic bicycle kick to divert the ball into the bottom corner of the net, out of the reach of Ryan Schmid.

However, Leverstock’s third substitution, bringing on Lewis Collins, was also quickly followed by a goal, this time at the right end. In the 79th minute some good work by Luke Nugent put Reece Cameron through on goal. Cameron could have had a shot himself from a narrow angle, but spotted that Preedy was in a much better position and squared the ball. Preedy had plenty of time to control it and pick his spot before slotting into the corner to put the Green back in the lead at 2-1.

Collins went close to adding a third in the 85th minute with a shot that went just over the bar, but the last word went to skipper Mark Smith. In the 90th minute Wembley keeper Joseph came up for a corner, and got his head to it, but was denied by a brilliant clearance from Smith, heading off the line.

Smith was particularly impressive today, but everyone in the squad played their part in an excellent hard-working performance which brought a deserved win.

Well deserved and gritty performance against a form team. Stuck to game plan and for a very young side kept disciplined shape. Bodes well for a strong second half of season.

— ExPBTFCemployee (@ExPBTFCemployee) February 9, 2019