Match Report

Leverstock Green extended their run of league wins to three and moved up to third in the SSML Premier Division table after a convincing win over Crawley Green in Saturday’s game at Pancake Lane. The damage was done by a scintillating display of attacking football in the first half from Fergus Moore’s side.

The visitors had the game’s first chance in the opening minute when Zion Selassie-Yoseph got on the end of a cross but headed over from close range. Instead it was Leverstock who opened the scoring in the second minute. Adrian Pitfield played the ball forward, and Ollie Lawford flicked it on to Ethan Mooney, who sidestepped keeper Sam Fearon and slotted home.

However, the lead didn’t last for long. In the 5th minute Crawley Green pushed forward, and Luke Andrews hit a shot from distance which hit the inside of the post and flew into the opposite corner of the net.

Leverstock shrugged off the setback and continued to attack. In the 10th minute visiting keeper Fearon pulled off a double save, keeping out a shot from Mooney and Paplamin Jawara’s shot from the rebound. Dan Pett hit a shot just over the bar in the 19th minute. On 22 minutes a pass from Kian Wilkes gave Lewis Collins a run at goal. Collins couldn’t hit his shot on target on this occasion, however two minutes later a great pass from Pitfield put Collins through on goal and this time he slotted the ball home confidently to put Leverstock back in front.

Fearon produced another double save in the 29th minute, keeping out Pett’s shot and his second attempt from the rebound. Three minutes later a pass from Pett found Collins in the box with plenty to do, but Collins twisted and turned past two defenders, bursting through to slot home a brilliant third goal for Leverstock.

Fearon was in action again in the 35th minute, turning away Lawford’s shot. However, a minute later a Leverstock corner was not cleared. After a couple of blocked attempts at goal, Pett laid the ball back to Wilkes, who drilled home a shot from just inside the box to put Leverstock 4-1 up.

The visitors turned in a better display in the second half, although Leverstock still had chances to add to their lead. On 56 minutes Fearon denied Lawford again, turning his shot onto the post, and there were a number of other efforts just off target. Leverstock seldom looked like conceding, although in the 72nd minute Alfie Bonfield was extended to keep out a header from Joe Hankins.

The Leverstock side played the last 15 minutes of the game with ten men. With all three subs already used, Pitfield had to leave the game with an injury. The closest they came to adding to their tally was four minutes from time when Paul Marks got on the end of a Pett corner but headed just wide.

Leverstock Green (4) 4 (Mooney 2, Collins 24, 32, Wilkes 36)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Ethan Mooney (18. Rawn Seale 66 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Ollie Lawford (16. Mikkel James 58 mins), 10. Paplamin Jawara, 11. Lewis Collins (14. Elgeniy Daalberg 73 mins). Subs not used: 12. Ryan Carruthers, 17. Bradley Robinson.
Crawley Green (1) 1 (Andrews 5)
1. Sam Fearon, 2. Adam Hughes, 3. Isiah Brown-Smith, 4. Joe Hubbard, 5. Marlon Burton, 6. Kieran Floyd, 7. Lewis Osbourne (16. Ollie Brannan 59 mins), 8. Luke Andrews (14. Joe Hankins 45 mins), 9. Zion Selassie-Yoseph, 10. Brendan Cowell (15. Kieran Marone 62 mins), 11. Dan Blackman. Subs not used: 12. Wes Iroegbu, 17. Jarred Isles.

Man of the match Lewis Collins receiving his award from match ball sponsor Jim Doble: