Match Report

Leverstock Green looked to be the way to a third straight league win as they held a comfortable 2-0 lead at half time, but Oxhey Jets made a strong comeback in the second half and deservedly claimed a point with a last-minute equaliser.

Fergus Moore had something of a depleted squad for this game, with five players from last week’s game unavailable for various reasons, plus the departure of Paplamin Jawara to divisional rivals New Salamis. On the plus side there was a debut for new signing Nagheeb Ibrahim from Uxbridge.

Leverstock made a strong start to the game, with Adam Page heading over the bar from an Ethan Mooney corner in the 4th minute. Two minutes later a pass from Ryan Carruthers put Page through on goal, and Page neatly slotted the ball between the legs of keeper Bradley Shaw to put the Green side into an early lead.

With a gusty wind in their favour, Leverstock continued to have much the best of the first half. In the 17th minute Mooney had a chance to shoot, but instead laid the ball off to Page, who was this time denied by a save from Shaw. A minute later Rawn Seale hit a shot from distance which was straight at Shaw.

The second Leverstock goal in the 24th minute was something of a gift from the Oxhey defence, as a too-casual pass across the face of their own box was intercepted by Kian Wilkes, and with Shaw out of his goal, Wilkes was able to take a few steps before lining up a shot into the empty net before Shaw could scramble back.

There was another chance on 33 minutes when a flick-on from Seale put Page through on goal again, but his early shot was wide of the target. Four minutes later Shaw had to punch away a shot from Seale as Leverstock threatened a third goal to put the game away.

Leverstock were threatening again early in the second half, with Rio Beach making a run into the box before hitting a shot across goal and wide in the 48th minute. Ibrahim went close in the 62nd minute with a shot that took a deflection and missed the target by inches.

However, Oxhey had been coming more into the game, and they looked even stronger after a double substitution in the 63rd minute. Their increasing pressure paid off when they pulled a goal back in the 67th minute. A cross from the left found the unmarked Sean Giordmaina, who was unable to get an effort on goal, but pulled the ball back across goal to substitute Kristian Swaby, who fired a shot into the corner of the net.

Over the closing ten minutes Leverstock had their backs to the wall against a constant stream of pressure from the Oxhey side. There were occasional threats on the break, but lack of control on a difficult pitch let them down at the vital moments. Leverstock still held their lead going into the 90th minute, but a long throw into the box was not cleared, and a looping header from substitute Nathan Page went in at the far post to level the scores at 2-2.

Even then Leverstock had chances to win the game in stoppage time. A shot from Carruthers was cleared off the line by defender Harry Brady. With seconds remaining Mooney was clean through on goal and had a chance of a shot, but instead chose to square the ball to the oncoming Seale, and it was cut out by a defender. In the end they had to be content with a point.

Oxhey Jets (0) 2 (Swaby 67, Page 90)
Team: 1. Bradley Shaw, 2. Harry Beaumont, 3. Leon Coker, 4. Sam Denham, 5. Onome Emovon (17. Nathan Page 71 mins), 6. Harry Brady, 7. Daryl Bryan-Samuels, 8. Massoxi Barradas (16. Alex Lawlor 63 mins), 9. Jake Tabor (14. Kristian Swaby 63 mins), 10. Tom Inch, 11. Sean Giordmaina. Subs not used: 12. Armstrong Agbakwuru, 15. Kenny Nobrega.
Leverstock Green (2) 2 (Page 6, Wilkes 24)
Team: 1. Tautis Poniskaitis, 2. Brad Robinson, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Scott McGleish, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Ryan Carruthers, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Adam Page (12. Lewis Collins 72 mins), 11. Nagheeb Ibrahim. Subs not used: 14. Lewis Nicholls, 15. Kyle Williams, 16. Fergus Moore, 17. Alfie Bonfield.