Match Report

Leverstock Green finally got their season up and running as they secured their first win of the season, claiming all three points from Saturday’s SSML Premier Division encounter with Potton United at Pancake Lane.

A new addition to the squad was Kyle Connolly, the former Hemel Hempstead Town player with over 200 appearances in National League South, signed on a dual registration with Kings Langley to recover his fitness as he returns from a serious injury last season. Tuesday night’s goalscorer Stephen Dodd was out with a head injury, but Luke Peerless returned from injury and John Smith passed a late fitness test.

After a quiet opening ten minutes Leverstock had their first chance in the 14th minute when Ollie Cox delivered a free kick into the box, but Dan Weeks headed over at the far post. A minute later a mistake in the Potton defence offered Cox the chance to shoot from distance, but it went just wide.

In the 18th minute the visitors had a chance when a mistake let Justin Leavers through. Leavers took the ball past Carl Tasker, but before he could have a shot at the empty net Jack Stevens got back to put in a crucial and well-timed challenge that won the ball. Stevens’ tackle proved even more crucial, as within a minute Leverstock were in front. Steve Hawes spotted that Potton keeper Sam Irish was well out of his goal, and launched a lob from the halfway line that flew over the stranded Irish and into the net for a spectacular opener.

The visitors created another chance on 35 minutes when a pass from Leavers put Nathan Mullings through, but his shot was comfortably saved by Tasker. Two minutes before the break Mullings was through again, but this time Tasker pulled off a great save to turn his shot round the post. Leverstock were forced into a change before half time, with Lucas Preston replacing the injured Luis Brooker.

Seven minutes into the second half Potton broke away quickly from a poorly-taken Leverstock free kick, and Leavers again put Mullings through, but Tasker prevailed again, this time coming out of his goal to tackle the forward with his feet. Three minutes later the Green had a shout for a penalty when Preston was through on goal and appeared to be caught from behind, but all the referee awarded was a corner.

Connolly came off the bench for his debut in the 61st minute, and in the 71st minute there was another debut for Tom Carter, recently signed from Amersham Town. Five minutes after coming on Carter went close to scoring as he took a free kick from 20 yards and curled it just over the bar. In the 79th minute Carter got on the end of a cross from Adiel Mannion, but couldn’t divert it on target.

Going into the last ten minutes the game was still in the balance with only one goal in it, but then the game turned decisively in Leverstock’s favour. Mannion went through one-on-one on Irish, and as he tried to take the ball round the keeper, an outstretched arm brought him down. This time the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Mannion did not get the chance to make up for his miss on Tuesday night as John Smith took responsibility and netted the spot kick for a 2-0 Leverstock lead in the 80th minute.

However, three minutes later Mannion had his name on the scoresheet. Carter delivered a corner to the far post where Stevens headed it down to Mannion, who blasted home a shot off the underside of the bar to put the Green into a commanding 3-0 lead.

A minute from time Potton made things potentially interesting as Ashley Ingham took advantage of a mistake caused by a bobble on the pitch to shoot home from a narrow angle and reduce the arrears to 3-1, but that proved to be only a consolation as Leverstock saw out the three minutes of stoppage time to clinch the three points.