Match Report

Leverstock Green’s run in the Gladwish Challenge Trophy ended at the quarter-final stage as they were beaten in a penalty shoot out by Hadley after conceding an equaliser in stoppage time. It was a great second half display by the Green side as they came back from a goal down at half time to lead 2-1, but couldn’t hold on for a deserved win.

With regular keeper Alfie Bonfield rested due to an injury, under-18 keeper Oscar Frost came in for his second first team appearance of the season, and turned in an excellent display. In the 5th minute Frost pulled off a good save to keep out a header from Aaron Scott. Leverstock had a chance from a free kick just outside the box in the 15th minute, but Kian Wilkes’ effort went over the bar. Seven minutes later a cross from Rio Beach found Sean Walsh, who took the ball down well, but didn’t get hold of his shot properly.

In the 26th minute Hadley had an effort from Jordan Edwards cleared off the line, and three minutes later Sam Edwards hit a free kick just wide. Hadley went in front in the 32nd minute when Solomon Ofori broke clear and ran on to slot the ball past Frost. Ofori was close to a second on 37 minutes but his shot hit the bar.

Hadley went into the break leading 1-0 but Leverstock produced a great response in the second half. On 55 minutes a shot from Dan Pett was cleared off the line. Two minutes later Beach floated a free kick into the six yard box and Rawn Seale connected with a powerful header to level the scores at 1-1.

In the 69th minute a flick from Walsh gave Seale the chance to run into the box, where he was brought down by a challenge from Scott. Despite the protests of the Hadley players, the referee awarded the penalty, and Ethan Mooney netted his second spot kick in successive games to put Leverstock in front at 2-1.

Leverstock had a great chance to stretch their lead in the 78th minute when a neat pass from Mooney put Seale through on goal, but his shot went just over the bar.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time Leverstock were still in the lead, but a Hadley cross from the left caused problems inside the Green box, and substitute Peter Rosemin smashed home a shot to level the scores at 2-2. Even then Leverstock could have won the game further into stoppage time, but a header from WIlkes was saved.

With the scores level at 2-2 at full time, the game went into a penalty shoot out, and it didn’t get off to a great start for Leverstock with Pett’s kick being saved, while Sam Edwards scored Hadley’s first kick. Mooney levelled the scores at 1-1, and then Frost produced a great save to keep out Billy Baird’s second kick for Hadley. However, Leverstock’s third kick, from Rio Beach, struck the underside of the bar and bounced away from goal, allowing Hadley to go back in front through Billy Hayes. Wilkes and Nagheeb Ibrahim were successful with Leverstock’s remaining kicks, but Rosemin and Ed Davis were also on target for Hadley as they won the shootout 4-3.

Hadley (1) 2 (Ofori 32, Rosemin 90+1)
Team: 1. Luke Ward, 2. Billy Baird, 4. Aaron Scott (18. Ed Davis 71 mins), 5. Tom Milton, 6. Dylan Ebengo, 7. Solomon Ofori, 8. Cameron Ferguson (16. Noah Salama 78 mins), 9. Jordan Edwards (14. Peter Rosemin 71 mins), 10. Sam Edwards, 11. Zack Uribarri, 17. Billy Hayes. Subs not used: 13. Davis Boeteng, 15. Stephen O’Hara.
Leverstock Green (0) 2 (Seale 57, Mooney 69 pen)
Team: 1. Oscar Frost, 2. Ollie Cox, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Scott McGleish, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Sean Walsh (15. Elgeniy Daalberg 78 mins), 11. Nagheeb Ibrahim. Subs not used: 12. Jack Allen, 14. Ryan Carruthers, 16. Adam Page, 17. Alfie Bonfield.

Hadley win 4-3 on penalties.