Match Report

It looks as though Leverstock Green may have to rely on other results to keep them in the SSML Premier Division after another defeat in Tuesday night’s game at Potton United.

Just over two minutes had been played when the home side took the lead through Jim Burnside, who shot home from inside the box. They should have had a second goal four minutes later when Christian Smail was through, but slipped his shot wide of the target.

Ryan Schmid did well to prevent another goal in the 13th minute, diving at the feet of Burnside to claim the ball, and produced another great save with his legs to keep out a shot from Aaron Murrell on 21 minutes.

Leverstock had shown some promise from set pieces early in the game, and in the 25th minute they finally scored their first league goal in eight games as Terry Griffths got on the end of a free kick from Jamie Fulton with a header that went in off the underside of the bar to level the scores at 1-1.

The half time score offered some hope for the Leverstock contingent, but it was still Potton who were creating most of the chances in the second half. On 55 minutes Burnside headed over the bar from close range, and two minutes later a shot from Gareth Hunt struck the post. On 61 minutes Leverstock lost the ball in midfield, and Potton broke quickly, with Burnside turning in the box and shooting home his second of the match to reestablish their lead.

Leverstock went close to an equaliser two minutes later when Mark Smith burst through the middle and laid off to Deandre Blake, but his shot was turned round the post by keeper Tyler Josephs. On 71 minutes an attempted lob from Luke Abraham went just over the bar.

As the game went into its closing minutes the Green side continued to push forward, but were unable to find the telling ball to create any clear-cut chances, and they were then hit by two further late goals. Firstly Burnside broke clean through to complete his hat-trick in the 90th minute, and in the third minute of stoppage time Sam Parrish headed home a corner to make the final score 4-1.

Leverstock have two games remaining, at home to third-placed Hadley on Saturday, and away to Leighton Town the following week.