Match Report

Berkhamsted win 4-2 on penalties.

Leverstock Green put up a tremendous performance against their Southern League neighbours Berkhamsted, but for the second time this season they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out. The Green side soaked up a lot of pressure from the Berko side, but created some good chances themselves in a competitive game that could have gone either way in the 90 minutes. Both sides made a number of changes from their previous games, and the Leverstock side included Ollie Cox, playing his first game since returning to the club from Leighton Town.

The visitors went close in the second minute of the game when Phil Draycott’s cross from the left found Alie Bangura six yards out, but Green keeper Juliusz Pazio kept his shot out. Pazio saved another shot from Lewis Toomey in the 11th minute, and comfortably gathered a number of other shots from distance. Leverstock had a few long-range efforts themselves which were saved by visiting keeper Xavi Comas Leon, but the best effort of the half came in stoppage time when Cox’s effort from 20 yards was turned round the post by Leon.

The second half was big on effort from both sides but short of goalmouth action for much of the half. Berko had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the 66th minute when Alie Bangura was tripped on a run into the box, but Lewis Toomey skied the resulting penalty way over the bar.

Three minutes from time Leverstock had a couple of good chances to win the game. Firstly a pass from Ryan Carruthers put Ethan Mooney through on goal, but his shot went just wide. Soon after there was another chance when a cross from Elgeniy Daalberg found Ollie Lawford in front of goal in space, but Lawford’s first touch let him down, and his shot was closed down.

With the deadlock still unbroken after 90 minutes, the tie went to penalties. Kian Wilkes took the first kick, but it was saved by Leon, and although Mooney and Paplamin Jawara were both successful, Lawford’s kick was also saved. Meanwhile Berko scored all four of their kicks to win the shootout 4-2, and will now face a home tie against Hemel Hempstead Town in the next round.

Leverstock Green 0
Team: 1. Juliusz Pazio, 2. Harry Bonner (17. Adrian Pitfield 73 mins), 3. Bradley Robinson, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paplamin Jawara, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Kian Wilkes, 9. Mikkel James (14. Ollie Lawford 86 mins), 10. Ollie Cox (16. Paul Marks 78 mins), 11. Elgeniy Daalberg. Subs not used: 12. Lewis Collins, 18. Rawn Seale.
Penalties: Wilkes (saved), Mooney, Jawara, Lawford (saved).
Berkhamsted 0
Team: 1. Xavi Comas Leon, 2. Mohamed Bangura, 3. Matt Cooper, 4. Lucas Kirkpatrick, 5. Robbie Goodman, 6. Charlie Briggs, 7. Phil Draycott, 8. Connor Toomey (14. Adam Watkins 56 mins), 9. Lewis Toomey, 10. James Verney (16. Jake Tabor 76 mins), 11. Alie Bangura. Subs not used: 12. Ryan Kinnane, 15. Max Farrelly.
Penalties: Briggs, Draycott, Watkins, A.Bangura.