Match Report

Leverstock Green continued their winning start to their league season, as they turned in a superb display to come away from Aylesbury Vale Dynamos with a deserved 4-1 win to make it two wins from two games. It’s very early days, but Fergus Moore’s side sit at the top of the league after this result which featured a masterclass from veteran forward Scott McGleish and four classic poachers’ finishes from two young strikers.

Ollie Lawford came into the side for his first competitive action of the season, and was soon getting on the end of chances. In the 15th minute McGleish flicked on a goal kick into Lawford’s path, but his shot from a narrow angle was just over the bar. Four minutes later a pass from Kian Wilkes put Lawford in again, but this time his shot was wide. A great move in the 24th minute ended with McGleish playing a pass in behind the defence for Isiah Noel-Williams, who again couldn’t get an effort on target, his shot going inches over the bar.

The shots continued to come, with Ethan Mooney shooting a yard wide from the edge of the box on 30 minutes, McGleish hitting a shot wide a minute later, and again on 39 minutes from a free kick. However, in the 43rd minute Mooney made a superb break down the left wing, outpacing the chasing defenders before delivering a cross into the six yard box where Lawford was there to shoot home the opening goal and send Leverstock into the break with a 1-0 lead after a half in which they had been well on top.

Leverstock continued to dominate in the second half, and added a second goal on 52 minutes. Kian Wilkes delivered a low cross from near the bye-line, and Lawford met it with a glancing sidefoot to score his second of the match.

McGleish left the action on 68 minutes after a fantastic shift, and was replaced by Mikkel James, who wasted no time in getting involved. Within two minutes of coming on, James slid in to meet a cross from Noel-Williams but just failed to make contact. However, the ball ran through to Mooney, who crossed it back in and this time James was there with a glancing header to put Leverstock into a 3-0 lead.

The home side had produced little to trouble Leverstock keeper Juliusz Pazio on his debut, but on 82 minutes they pulled a goal back. Chris Shennan pulled the back back from the bye-line for Callum Shortt to finish from close range. However, Leverstock restored their three-goal lead three minutes later. Paplamin Jawara cleared the ball from his own box to find Noel-Williams, who set off on a run from the halfway line before threading a pass through for James to slot home his second of the match, completing a final scoreline of 4-1.

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (0) 1 (Shortt 82)
Team: 1. Dan McAteer, 2. Luke Nugent, 3. Dan Wilson, 4. Paolo Bagatti, 5. Terry Griffths, 6. Tom McElroy (15. Archie Clarke 55 mins), 7. Ollie Lemon (12. Charlie Ogle 61 mins), 8. Alfi Touceda, 9. Jake Baldwin (16. Chris Shennan 74 mins), 10. Will Foley, 11. Callum Shortt. Subs not used: 14. Marcus Rivers, 17. Dan Ball.

Leverstock Green (1) 4 (Lawford 43, 52, James 70, 85)
1. Juliusz Pazio, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Brima Johnson, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Kian Wilkes (15. Paplamin Jawara 72 mins), 9. Scott McGleish (12. Mikkel James 68 mins), 10. Ollie Lawford (14. Rawn Seale 72 mins), 11. Isiah Noel-Williams. Subs not used: 17. Harry Bonner, 18. Alfie Bonfield.