Match Report

Leverstock Green exited the Premier Division Cup at the first round stage as they were beaten 2-1 at Tring Athletic in Tuesday night’s tie, which was finally played at the third time of asking.

Tring made the stronger start to the match, with Leverstock keeper Tautis Poniskaitis having to save a shot from Olly Butler in the opening minute. In the 10th minute they opened the scoring through Ronan Hutchins, who picked up the ball from a poor defensive header and drilled home an emphatic shot from outside the box that gave Poniskaitis no chance.

Leverstock then had a series of good chances. In the 13th minute Rawn Seale got on the end of a Dan Pett corner but couldn’t get his shot on target. Two minutes later a pass from Pett put Seale in behind a defence that was running away from goal, but again Seale’s shot was off target. Jack Allen hit a shot just wide in the 17th minute, and in the 26th minute both Seale and Allen had efforts in a goalmouth scramble following a corner, but neither could force the ball home.

The equaliser finally arrived in the 33rd minute, and it was a bolt from the blue as Ryan Carruthers received the ball 30 yards out and struck a ferocious dipping shot that flew over the outstretched arm of keeper Jake Alley into the net.

The scores were level at 1-1 after an evenly-contested first half, but it only took six minutes of the second half for Tring to go back in front. A long ball forward found Allen in two minds whether to clear it or play it back, and that moment of hesitation was pounced on by Butler, who ran on to slot the ball past Poniskaitis for a 2-1 lead.

That proved to be enough for Tring as Leverstock pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but were unable to break down a well-organised Tring defence, with Alley not being required to make a serious save during the half.

Tring Athletic (1) 2 (Hutchins 10, Butler 51)
Team: 1. Jake Alley, 2. Tommy Twelves, 15. Harry Seabrook, 3. George Carbery, 5. Matt Ellis, 6. Lenny Armstrong, 14. Jack Stevens, 17. Leo Farruch, 7. Frankie Hercules, 20. Ronan Hutchins, 8. Olly Butler. Subs used: 18. Charlie Miller, 19. Godlove Oppong. Subs not used: Adam Sawyer, Harrison Cornick.
Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Carruthers 33)
Team: 1. Tautis Poniskaitis, 2. Brad Robinson, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Jack Allen (18. Scott McGleish 81 mins), 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Ryan Carruthers (12. Ollie Cox 65 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Tomasz Siemienczuk, 11. Nagheeb Ibrahim. Subs not used: 14. Lewis Nicholls, 15. Paul Marks, 19. Fergus Moore.