Match Report

Leverstock Green have now gone four home league games without a win after a disappointing defeat to Hadley in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division game. Two poor goals conceded proved to be too much to come back from, as Hadley gained revenge for Leverstock’s win at their ground back in October.

Leverstock were caught cold by a goal which went in before many spectators had taken up their place. Solomon Ofori was allowed to run down the right wing and send a cross into the box which was not cleared, and Zach Uribarri hit a shot at the far post which Alfie Bonfield got a hand to, but could not keep out as Hadley took the lead with just 40 seconds on the clock.

Fergus Moore’s side started to settle down, and had a chance for an equaliser in the 9th minute when a pass from Ethan Mooney gave Rawn Seale a run at goal, but he hit his shot over the bar. Hadley had a chance for a second goal in the 15th minute when Ofori had the goal at his mercy from inside the six yard box, but a goalline clearance from Rio Beach kept the ball out.

In the 24th minute a dangerous-looking cross from Ollie Cox was cleared by a Hadley defender at the far post. There was another good chance for the Green side in the 33rd minute when a cross from Lewis Collins caused a goalmouth scramble, but Mooney’s shot was blocked and Dan Weeks hit a shot over the bar. Hadley had another chance in the 41st minute when Luke Jupp was clean through on goal but Bonfield pulled off a great save with his legs to keep the deficit to a single goal at half time.

Leverstock put some pressure on the Hadley goal in the early stages of the second half, but a defensive mistake allowed Hadley to double their lead against the run of play in the 52nd minute. Paul Marks was in his own half and attempted to head the ball across to Weeks, but the ball ran loose and Ofori nipped inbetween the two defenders to intercept, running clean through to shoot home in off the post.

However, Leverstock got themselves back into the game in the 68th minute as a period of pressure ended with Dan Pett hitting a sidefooted shot from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of players, and despite the keeper getting a hand to it, the ball went in for Pett’s first goal for the club.

Leverstock continued to push forward for an equaliser, but throughout the game they were lacking the quality in the final third to create clear-cut chances, and Hadley were able to hold on for their win.

Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Pett 68)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Ryan Carruthers (18. Kian Wilkes 59 mins), 7. Lewis Collins, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale (16. Ollie Lawford 49 mins), 10. Ollie Cox, 11. Ethan Mooney (14. Jamie Calvin 87 mins). Subs not used: 12. Harry Bonner, 17. Brad Robinson.
Hadley (1) 2 (Uribarri 1, Ofori 52)
Team: 1. Charlie Mann, 2. Bradley Marriott, 3. Andrew White, 5. Billy Baird, 6. Dylan Ebengo, 7. Solomon Ofori, 8. Zach Uribarri, 9. Jordan Edwards, 10. Shaz Anwar, 11. Luke Jupp (16. Tom Milton 74 mins), 18. Nnamdi Harold-Egole. Subs not used: 4. Joshua Yoane, 12. George Alfieri, 17. Emmanuel Adeboyaga.