Match Report

Leverstock Green’s under-18 side turned in another fantastic display to progress to the Second Round Qualifying of the FA Youth Cup with a convincing 5-1 win at Windsor on Monday night, adding to the seven goals they scored in the previous round.

The team made a bright start to the match, with Frankie Bircham hitting a shot just over the bar in the 6th minute. In the 27th minute David Emiloju hit a shot just wide, while 2 minutes later Ben Payne was clean through. The keeper made a good save to keep out Payne’s shot and his effort from the rebound went wide.

The deserved goal finally arrived on 32 minutes. Lewis Nicholls crossed from the left, and though Payne couldn’t quite get on the end of it, Emiloju was following in behind and shot home.

The lead was doubled five minutes later. A great pass from Jaylan Hector put Nicholls in on goal, and he shrugged off the attentions of a defender to slot home confidently for his fourth goal of the competition so far. It got even better in first half stoppage time when Emiloju was brought down in the box and Nicholls netted the resulting penalty to send Leverstock into the break with a 3-0 lead.

Payne could have made it four within 13 seconds of the restart, but shot over the bar after a defender headed the ball into his path. On 56 minutes Alfie Bigg struck a free kick from outside the box which was tipped over the bar by a keeper.

A straight red card for serious foul play reduced Windsor to ten men on 63 minutes, but their side seemed to play better with ten men than they had with eleven. After a spell of pressure, Windsor pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute when a cross from the right was netted from close range.

They could have pulled another goal back but for a couple of impressive saves from Leverstock keeper Lawrence Knowles. However, the Green nerves were settled on the break in the 87th minute when substitute Leo Broom ran clean through to slot home the fourth goal. There was further icing on the cake in the 90th minute when two substitutes combined, as Phoenix Chambers crossed and Broom swept in at the near post to clip home his second goal.

There was a worrying moment at the end of the game when a clash of heads left Emiloju with a nasty-looking facial injury, but hopefully he will make a quick recovery. Leverstock’s reward for this impressive win is a home tie against Wealdstone in the Second Round Qualifying on Thursday 8th October.

Team: Lawrence Knowles, Jaylan Hector, Ethan Bradbury, Aidan O’Connor, Alfie Atkins, Frankie Bircham (Leo Broom 71 mins), David Emiloju, Lewis Nicholls (Dylan Jones 90+1 mins), Ben Payne, Alfie Bigg, Nana Yeboah (Phoenix Chambers 71 mins).
Subs not used: Keelan Ricketts, Joe Pinnock.