Match Report

Hot on the heels of winning their first home league game for months last Saturday, Leverstock Green won another one. Again a single goal was enough to win the game, but this week it came early in the game. It turned out to be a hard-fought three points in difficult wet and windy conditions, against a Milton Keynes Irish side that played very well and had the bulk of the chances in the game.

Manager Fergus Moore was away at the wedding of goalkeeping coach Darren Bonfield, and Leverstock’s regular goalkeeper Alfie Bonfield was also at his father’s wedding, so there was a debut in goal for new signing Tautis Poniskaitis from Burnham. The Lithuanian gave an outstanding display, keeping out a number of good efforts from the visitors, and was named man of the match. Assistant manager Scott McGleish was also unavailable today, so coaches Paul Marks and AJ Findlay took charge of the team and had a successful debut in management.

The only goal of the game came in the 10th minute, originating from an MK defender unwisely trying a backheeled flick in his own half. The ball went straight to Rawn Seale, who spotted the run of Adam Page, and Seale threaded the ball perfectly into the path of Page, who slotted past keeper Jack Taylor to notch his first goal for the club.

The goal had been somewhat against the run of play, with the visitors having had the bulk of the play, although not yet producing anything to trouble Poniskaitis. MK had a good chance in the 33rd minute when a square ball from the left found Dominic Lawless six yards out, but he shot over the bar. Three minutes later at the other end a cross from Elgeniy Daalberg caused some problems in the MK box, but neither Dan Pett nor Seale could force the ball home.

On 41 minutes Poniskaitis made his first great save of the game, an acrobatic dive to keep out a shot from Steve Brooks one-handed. Two minutes later Leverstock were denied at the other end as Taylor dived down low to turn away a glancing header from Dan Weeks. In first half stoppage time Poniskaitis was in action again, dealing well with a long-range effort from Oliver Coleman.

Leverstock were attacking down the slope in the second half, but with the strong wind and the rain against them it gave them little advantage. Again it was the visitors who were playing most of the football, winning numerous corners, but being unable to break the dogged Green resistance. In the 51st minute a header from a corner was heading for the top corner of the net but Jack Allen got up to head it over the bar. Five minutes later Coleman had a effort from a free kick outside the box which was looping up towards the top corner after a deflection off Paplamin Jawara, but Poniskaitis pulled off another great save to tip it over the bar.

A pass from Jawara gave Daalberg a clear sight of goal in the 69th minute, but he couldn’t keep his shot under the bar. Three minutes later Seale had an effort from a narrow angle which brought a save out of Taylor. However, for the most part Leverstock were very much on the back foot in the closing stages, but kept their concentration and shape to the end to claim another important three points that lifts them back up to 5th place in the league. Further plus points were the return of both Lewis Collins and Ethan Mooney from injury, both coming off the bench in the second half.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Page 10)
Team: 1. Tautis Poniskaitis, 2. Brad Robinson, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Jack Allen, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Elgeniy Daalberg (14. Lewis Collins 80 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Adam Page (17. Ethan Mooney 64 mins), 11. Paplamin Jawara (18. Sean Walsh 84 mins). Subs not used: 12. Ryan Carruthers, 16. Paul Marks.
Milton Keynes Irish (0) 0
Team: 1. Jack Taylor, 3. Eddie Richardson, 18. Nat Beecher, 4. Liam Smyth, 5. Steve Brooks, 6. Nathan Smith, 17. Oliver Coleman, 11. Robert Macdonald (15. Ollie Lemon 57 mins), 8. Andre Olukanmi (9. Jack Clarkson 70 mins), 10. George Boland (2. Ryan Coyles 80 mins), 12. Dominic Lawless.