Match Report

Leverstock Green got back to winning ways as they came away from Crawley Green with an impressive result. Fergus Moore had a depleted squad to pick from today, but the players that came in gave a good performance. The turning point of the game was the award of a controversial penalty in the second half.

The Leverstock side got off to a great start as they opened the scoring within two minutes. Lewis Collins made a typically powerful run towards the Crawley box before laying off to Elgeniy Daalberg, who slotted a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The home side should have been level almost immediately. Jake Tabor beat the Leverstock defence on the right and squared into the box for Taylor Rhiney, who shot wide from right in front of goal. Crawley continued to put pressure on with a series of corners, one of which was tipped onto the bar by Alfie Bonfield.

Daalberg had a chance for his second on 12 minutes, but shot wide after being set up by a run from Isiah Noel-Williams. Crawley had another good chance four minutes later, but Tabor shot across goal and wide. They had an even better chance in the final minute of the half when Adam Hughes was clean through, but again the shot was off target, leaving Leverstock still holding onto their slender lead going into half time.

There were chances at both ends in the opening five minutes of the second half. A header from Adrian Pitfield was awkwardly saved by the home keeper with his feet, while Bonfield turned a deflected shot round the post. On 55 minutes Crawley put together a passing move going from one end of the field to the other, but Rhiney shot over the bar.

The game’s controversial moment came on the hour. Collins went on another purposeful run into the box, and when attempting a quick turn past defender Isiah Brown-Smith, Collins went down. The referee waved away Collins’ appeal for a penalty, but the linesman flagged for the spot kick. The referee went with the linesman’s call, to the consternation of the home side who insisted there was no contact. When the dust settled, Paplamin Jawara stroked the penalty home to put Leverstock into a 2-0 lead.

Leverstock were well on top now and looked likely to further increase their lead. On 67 minutes Daalberg went on a solo run into the box but his shot was turned round the post. Four minutes later Noel-Williams went on a run before setting up Mikkel James, whose shot was parried by the keeper, with Noel-Williams just unable to put away the rebound.

Finally on 74 minutes Collins exchanged passes with James before going on another barrelling run into the box, neatly dinking the ball over the keeper for the third goal.

That was enough for Leverstock to claim their first ever SSML Premier Division win over Crawley Green, and there was even time for the manager to make a cameo appearance from the bench for the final minute of the game.

Crawley Green (0) 0
1. Mark Blower, 2. Adam Hughes (15. Jarrad Isles 74 mins), 3. Isiah Brown-Smith, 4. Chris Crook, 5. Kieran Floyd, 6. Ehizoye Oiffon (17. Luke Andrews 69 mins), 7. Taylor Rhiney (12. Wesley Iroegbu 75 mins), 8. Danny Blackman, 9. Jake Tabor, 10. Charlie Clayton, 11. Joe Hubbard. Subs not used: 14. Tariq Foster, 16. Kevin McManus.

Leverstock Green (1) 3 (Daalberg 2, Jawara 62 pen, Collins 74)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Scott McGleish (16. Fergus Moore 90 mins), 5. Paul Marks, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Lewis Collins, 8. Paplamin Jawara, 9. Mikkel James, 10. Isiah Noel-Williams (14. Kian Wilkes 77 mins), 11. Elgeniy Daalberg. Subs not used: 12. Dan Pett, 17. Ethan Mooney.