Match Report

Leverstock Green got off the mark in the Gladwish/SSML Spring Cup, and today’s results left Group B wide open with all five sides still in with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. The Green side came from behind to secure an excellent result against a team that had beaten Harefield United 4-1 the previous week.

It was the visitors Rayners Lane who had the early chances in the game. Adi Connolly tipped a header from Bengie Idikayi over the bar in the 12th minute, and an effort from the resulting corner was cleared off the line. Two minutes later Connolly saved again, turning away a shot from Rob Hastings.

John Smith had a chance for Leverstock in the 17th minute but shot wide, and two minutes later a neat backheel from Frank Jowle gave Cass Grant a run at goal, but his shot went across goal and wide.

Rayners Lane took the lead in the 23rd minute from the penalty spot. It was a rather harsh decision, penalising what looked like a good tackle from Michael Gabblah, but Courtney Austin stepped up to put the spot kick away.

Leverstock were only behind for seven minutes. Steve Hawes played a ball forward from the halfway line that Adiel Mannion chased to the bye-line and pulled back for Jowle, who lofted a shot over the keeper for the equaliser.

The referee awarded the second penalty of the game in the 58th minute after a challenge on Jowle inside the box sent him over. Ollie Lawford had only been on the pitch for just over a minute, but he stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way from the spot and put Leverstock 2-1 up.

The Green side was reduced to ten men temporarily in the 60th minute when Gabblah was sin-binned for contesting a decision, but they held their lead for the ten minutes that they were at a numerical disadvantage.

There were a couple of late chances to add further goals, with a great cross from Will Bisney in the 85th minute finding Lawford, who shot wide, and Mickey Shuttlewood heading wide from Lawford’s corner two minutes later, but the 2-1 lead proved to be enough.

Next Saturday Matt Harding’s side travel to Harefield United for their third group game.