Match Report

Leverstock Green made it four wins from five league games, and maintained their average of three goals per game as they pulled off another impressive result from Tuesday night’s visit to Harefield United. This time Fergus Moore’s side had to show patience, as despite dominating the game throughout, they did not find the net until the final 20 minutes of the game.

Leverstock went close to opening the scoring in the 5th minute when Scott McGleish hit a goalbound shot which was turned away by keeper Reece Mallett making a low dive to his left. Ollie Lawford was denied a goal in the 16th minute, having lobbed the onrushing Mallett the ball was bouncing into the net until defender Adam Murphy made a last-ditch clearance off the line.

The game got a bit scrappy in the latter stages of the half, with both Lawford and McGleish hitting efforts from distance which were just off-target, and Leverstock almost presenting Harefield with a goal after uncharacteristically giving the ball away in their own box, only for Junayd Shawwal to head wide from the resulting cross.

The Green side started the second half as impressively as they had started the first. In the opening minute of the half McGleish broke away before feeding Ethan Mooney out on the right, and Mooney ran on to deliver the perfect cross to find Paplamin Jawara at the far post, but Jawara’s sidefooted finish went across goal and wide. In the 52nd minute Brima Johnson floated a free kick into the box to find McGleish, whose header across goal was met by a header from Paul Marks which went inches wide.

On 63 minutes Isiah Noel-Williams showed great determination to force his way into the box and hit a shot which was kept out by the boot of Mallett, the rebound just eluding Lawford, who was replaced by Rawn Seale shortly afterwards. Within two minutes of coming on Seale had an effort at goal which went over the bar.

The Leverstock side could have been forgiven for feeling frustrated at not having found the net yet, but they kept pushing forward and finally got their deserved goal in the 73rd minute. Jawara’s pass from his own half found Mooney, who took advantage of a slip from the chasing defender to deliver the ball into the six-yard box where it was blocked by Mallett, however it was Noel-Williams who got to the rebound first and smashed the ball home from close range.

The confidence was flowing through the Green side, and on 81 minutes they doubled their lead. Seale made a run down the left and his cross to the far post found Mooney, who had his back to goal but showed the composure to turn and shoot low past Mallett into the bottom corner.

The game could have been back in the balance with three minutes left as Harefield pulled a goal back. Alfie Bonfield kept out an effort from Femi Ogunsola, but Shawwal bundled home the rebound. However, straight from the kick-off Leverstock attacked again, and substitute Lewis Collins’ barreling run into the box was ended when he was bundled over. The referee awarded the penalty, and Jawara fired the spot kick into the top corner of the net to restore his side’s two-goal advantage.

That proved to be enough for a very well-deserved win, and Leverstock will look to continue their good league form this Saturday when they travel to Haringey to meet Premier Division newcomers New Salamis.

Harefield United (0) 1 (Shawwal 87)
Team: 1. Reece Mallett, 2. Dave Polcher, 3. Steven Green, 4. Harry McCorkell, 5. Austin Schofield (16. Louie Bunce 27 mins), 6. Adam Murphy, 7. Petrit Krasniqi (12. Richard Pacquette 66 mins), 8. Scott Davies, 9. Courtney Austin (15. Femi Ogunsola 80 mins), 10. George Grange, 11. Junayd Shawwal. Subs not used: 14. Callum Neal, 17. Hekmat Alizai.

Leverstock Green (0) 3 (Noel-Williams 73, Mooney 81, Jawara 88 pen)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Paul Marks, 5. Brima Johnson, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney (15. Lewis Collins 85 mins), 8. Paplamin Jawara, 9. Scott McGleish (14. Mikkel James 82 mins), 10. Ollie Lawford (16. Rawn Seale 64 mins), 11. Isiah Noel-Williams. Subs not used: 12. Kian Wilkes, 17. Dan Weeks.