Match Report

Leverstock Green were unable to extend their winning run on Tuesday night when they made their first ever visit to Flackwell Heath. A much-improved second half performance did not translate into goals, and the Green side finished the game with ten men.

The home side took the lead in the 14th minute from a corner, as Jamie Essex came in unmarked at the near post to bundle the ball home.Leverstock created little in the first half, with only long-range efforts from Mikkel James on 19 minutes and Kian Wilkes on 39 minutes threatening the Flackwell goal. An injury to Elgeniy Daalberg forced a substitution midway through the first half, with Ethan Mooney coming off the bench.

In the last minute of the half Flackwell threatened a second when Sanchez Parkes went on a run through the middle of the Green defence, but the resulting shot was kept out by a great save from Alfie Bonfield. In stoppage time Kian Wilkes was booked for a tackle that gave away a free kick in a dangerous position, but nothing came of the free kick.

After a flat first half display, Leverstock made a brighter start to the second half. Two minutes in the ball was crossed dangerously across the face of goal, and was cleared to the edge of the box where Rio Beach met it with a firm low shot, but keeper Mohammed Amoub got down to save it at the post. On 62 minutes a forward header from Dan Weeks found Lewis Collins, who hit a half-volley that brought a great save out of Amoub. The Flackwell keeper continued to frustrate the Green side, pulling off another fantastic save from a Dan Pett shot four minutes later. Seconds later another shot was parried away by Amoub, and Rawn Seale followed up to net the rebound, but it was ruled out by the offside flag.

It was Leverstock who had most of the possession during the second half, although Flackwell still threatened occasionally on the break. Despite their territorial advantage, the Green side were unable to find a way past the Flackwell defence, and their night got worse in the last minute when a rather reckless tackle from Wilkes was punished by a second yellow card, reducing them to ten men.

Flackwell Heath (1) 1 (Essex 14)
Team: 1. Mohammed Amoub, 2. Brandon Eaton, 3. Tyler Gregory, 4. Jamie Essex, 5. Mo Ceesay, 6. Jack Shakespeare, 7. Alan Akerman, 8. Jack Taylor, 9. Sanchez Parkes (15. Ben Fraser 77 mins), 10. Ashley Howell (12. Simeon Weekes 77 mins), 11. Adam Thomas. Subs not used: 14. Kane Guy, 16. James Burrell, 17. Cody McCarthy.
Leverstock Green (0) 0
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Harry Bonner, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Lewis Collins, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Mikkel James (18. Rawn Seale 57 mins), 10. Ryan Carruthers (14. Ollie Lawford 75 mins), 11. Elgeniy Daalberg (16. Ethan Mooney 27 mins). Subs not used: 12. Paplamin Jawara, 17. Adrian Pitfield.