Match Report

Leverstock Green were unable to extend their two-game winning run as they fell to a defeat to a New Salamis side that played much of the game with ten men. Fergus Moore’s side had the chances to get something out of this game, but in the end they came up just short against the SSML Premier Division newcomers.

It started very well for the Green side as they took an early lead. In the 5th minute Ethan Mooney went on a great run down the left and crossed into the six-yard box where Rawn Seale’s first effort was blocked, but the ball came back to him and he buried it at the second attempt.

Home keeper Austin Byfield kept his side in the game with two great saves. In the 15th minute he turned a shot from Ollie Lawford round the post. From the resulting corner the ball dropped for Isiah Noel-Williams, who connected with a rasping shot but Byfield tipped it over the bar.

New Salamis started pushing forward, and they had the chance for an equaliser in the 25th minute when Brima Johnson brought down a forward on the edge of the box. Initially the referee awarded a free kick just outside the box, but after consultation with his linesman, changed his mind and awarded the penalty. Ryan Hervel sent Alfie Bonfield the wrong way from the spot to level the scores.

Five minutes later the same linesman was involved again as the home side were reduced to ten men. An off-the-ball retaliation by Derek Asamoah on Paul Marks was spotted by the linesman, and Asamoah received a straight red card.

The scores were level at 1-1 going into half-time, and although Leverstock made the stronger start to the second half, they found themselves behind somewhat against the run of play in the 55th minute when Deniz Mehmet had the time and space in the box to turn and pick his spot to shoot past Bonfield.

Mehmet could have had another three minutes later, but this time his shot was kept out by Bonfield. Instead it was Leverstock who struck next to level the scores at 2-2 in the 69th minute. From a free kick just outside the box, Paplamin Jawara curled a beautiful effort round the wall and into the top corner of the net.

However, the scores were only level for four minutes as Leverstock conceded another poor goal. A corner wasn’t dealt with, and Anthony Furlonge pounced to shoot home from close range to put his side back in the lead at 3-2.

Leverstock came close to levelling again three minutes later when Adrian Pitfield connected with a near-post header, but it went inches over the bar. There was another chance in the 79th minute from a goalmouth scramble, but Noel-Williams sent his shot from close range flying over the bar. In the 90th minute a great cross from Noel-Williams found Mikkel James at the far post, but his header also went agonisingly close, going inches wide.

Despite a flurry of Leverstock corners in stoppage time the home side held on for an impressive win in their first game under their new manager. Leverstock will next turn their attention to the FA Vase, with a First Round Qualifying tie at London Colney next Saturday.

New Salamis (1) 3 (Hervel 25 pen, Mehmet 55, Furlonge 73)
Team: 1. Austin Byfield, 2. Anthony Furlonge, 3. Andreas Chambi (15. Freddy Tandon 54 mins), 4. Ryan Hervel, 5. Charne Lemba, 6. Johan Becka, 7. Harrison Georgiou (17. Arti Krasniqi 87 mins), 8. Jordan Sanderson, 9. Derek Asamoah, 10. Deniz Mehmet (12. Elijah Ogunseye 71 mins), 11. George Lutaaya. Subs not used: 14. Charlie Georgiou, 16. Tashan Richmond.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Lawford 5, Jawara 69)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield (12. Mikkel James 83 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Paul Marks, 5. Brima Johnson, 6. Paplamin Jawara, 7. Ethan Mooney (14. Elgeniy Daalberg 77 mins), 8. Kian Wilkes, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Ollie Lawford (20. Lewis Collins 61 mins), 11. Isiah Noel-Williams. Subs not used: 17. Ryan Carruthers, 18. Dan Weeks.