Match Report

Leverstock Green’s stuttering start to 2022 continued as they lost their second straight match. Saturday’s SSML Premier Division fixture at Ardley United was played in very difficult conditions, with the already heavy pitch made even worse by another downpour an hour before kick off, and with two penalty decisions going against them Fergus Moore’s side certainly didn’t get the rub of the green in this game.

There was a welcome return from injury for both Elgeniy Daalberg and Paplamin Jawara, with the former starting the game. The early stages of the game were dominated by the home side, playing down their considerable slope, but Alfie Bonfield was on hand to keep out Declan Benjamin’s shot in the second minute, and a free kick from Morgan Williams in the 9th minute.

A through ball in the 18th minute gave Rawn Seale the glimpse of a chance as he burst between two defenders, but couldn’t get proper contact on his shot. The game was largely scrappy for the remainder of the half, with little goalmouth action at either end, but just when it looked as though Leverstock would get to half time on level terms, they were on the wrong end of a harsh penalty decision. Ollie Cox was penalised for handball while running away from goal and with the ball kicked straight at him. Even so, it looked as though Leverstock had got away with it when Bonfield saved Liam Talboys’ spot kick, but Talboys was quickest off the mark to get to the rebound and stick the ball away at the second attempt.

Leverstock had the slope in their favour in the second half, but were still struggling to find the final ball to create a clear chance. Shortly after the introduction of Jawara in the 59th minute, they finally made a breakthrough, although with some controversy. Seale chased a through pass and got to it at the same time as keeper Freddie Lapworth, and managed to toe-poke the ball through Lapworth’s legs. Kian Wilkes followed in to slot the ball into the empty net. Lapworth felt that the ball had been in his hands before Seale got his boot on it, but the referee allowed the goal to stand and the scores were level at 1-1.

There should have been a second Green goal in the 65th minute. Daalberg made a great run down the left and delivered the ball into the box for Seale, who made good contact with his shot but hit it wide. In the 73rd minute there was another chance when a pass from James Hall put the speedy Daalberg clean through, but Lapworth came off his line and daved at Daalberg’s feet to claim the ball.

Leverstock were looking the better side at this stage, but were hit by another penalty decision in the 76th minute, this one a foul challenge which was flagged for by the linesman rather then being spotted by the referee. After consulting the linesman, the referee awarded the spot kick and Josh Tooke made no mistake to put Ardley back in front at 2-1.

The Green side pushed everything forward in at attempt to get back into the game, but in doing so left themselves exposed at the back. Ardley had missed two very good chances to extend their lead just before Tooke converted a cross from the right in the 88th minute to finally put the seal on their win.

Ardley United (1) 3 (Talboys 45, Tooke 76 pen, 88)
Team: 1. Freddie Lapworth, 2. Zarius Edwards-Giraud, 3. Ben Willoughby, 4. Liam Talboys, 5. Thomas Franklin, 6. Haydon McConnell (14. Elliott Osborne-Ricketts 79 mins), 7. Declan Benjamin, 8. Lewis Gabbidon, 9. Joshua Tooke, 10. James Casbieri (15. Ben Gascoigne 41 mins), 11. Morgan Williams. Subs not used: 16. Lewis Gabbidon, 17. Samuel Ellis.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Wilkes 60)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Bradley Robinson (12. Jack Allen 79 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Elgeniy Daalberg, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Ollie Cox (15. James Hall 72 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney (14. Paplamin Jawara 59 mins). Subs not used: 16. Kyle Williams, 17. Fergus Moore.