Match Report

Leverstock Green and Biggleswade United fought out a tough, uncompromising 0-0 draw in Tuesday night’s SSML Premier Division game. Despite the absence of goals it was an enthralling match with near misses at both ends. Both sides gave their all, and Leverstock in particular gave a resolute display at the back and were in no mood to give anything away.

There was another new signing making his debut tonight in centre forward Jamie Calvin, whose previous clubs include Daventry Town, Kings Langley, Kidlington and Hertford Town.

The visitors made a very fast start to the game and could have been a couple of goals up inside five minutes. In the second minute former Green player Ethan Flanagan got on the end of a cross from Codi Spavins and headed just wide. A minute later Charlie Black struck a shot from distance which Matt Fallon got a hand to and tipped onto the bar. At the other end Oran Swales put in a cross in the 5th minute that was cleared from the six yard box, and another which whipped across the face of goal in the 14th minute, but the first real chance came in the 18th minute when Dan Weeks got on the end of a cross but headed over the bar.

Biggleswade were threatening again on 22 minutes when a pass from Dave Parkinson put Spavins through, but after a couple of twists and turns Spavins’ eventual shot was blocked by a sliding challenge from Mickey Shuttlewood. Two minutes later the action was at the other end when Swales hit a shot from a narrow angle which was saved by keeper Taylor Haddow. On 32 minutes Fallon made another great save, diving to his left to keep out a rasping shot from former Green player Parkinson with one hand. Three minutes later a deflected free kick from Swales caused some confusion in the Biggleswade six-yard box but the ball would not go in.

The game threatened to boil over in the closing minutes of the half, and Leverstock were temporarily reduced to ten men when John Smith was sent to the sin bin.

Five minutes into the second half the visitors hit the bar for a second time as Parkinson hit another fierce shot from distance, after which Smith rejoined the game. On 62 minutes Fallon had to save again, keeping the ball out with his legs when Spavins was through on goal. Two minutes later Weeks won the ball in midfield and ran on to hit a shot, but it was comfortably saved by Haddow. On 72 minutes a cross from Frank Jowle sailed just over the head of Calvin.

As the game went into stoppage time it was still 0-0, but Leverstock were very unlucky not to grab a late winner as they had all the pressure during stoppage time. Two minutes into stoppage time a free kick dropped for Calvin eight yards out, but his hooked shot went just over. Five minutes into stoppage time a corner from Swales was met at the far post by Shuttlewood with a downward header that bounced up and agonisingly just over the bar. The final whistle came soon after, and it was a deserved point for both sides, and an impressive result for Leverstock against a team that had won their last four games.

Leverstock Green: 1. Matt Fallon, 2. Brima Johnson, 3. Will Bisney, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Mickey Shuttlewood, 6. Steve Hawes (17. Kian Wilkes 74 mins), 7. John Smith, 8. James Hall, 9. Jamie Calvin, 10. Oran Swales, 11. Frank Jowle (16. Sidney Gueye 74 mins). Subs not used: 12. Cass Grant, 14. Jamie Ovington, 15. Connor Church.

Biggleswade United: 1. Taylor Haddow, 2. Milo Keane, 3. Ross Taylor, 4. Jaiden Irish, 5. Jordan Wright, 6. Ethan Flanagan, 7. Codi Spavins (15. Dan Parkinson 79 mins), 8. Gareth Hunt (14. George Harlow 89 mins), 9. Dave Parkinson (16. Charlie Clayton 66 mins), 10. Charlie Black, 11. Dom Morgillo. Subs not used: 12. Jordan Jarrold, 17. Ollie Leslie.