Match Report

Leverstock Green were beaten at home by title-chasing Risborough Rangers, who clinched a promotion spot in the SSML Premier Division with Saturday’s three points. Fergus Moore was without several of his key players today, and although his side defended well to get to half time goalless, a dominant display from the visitors saw them well beaten in the second half. But for two penalty saves from keeper Alfie Bonfield, Leverstock could have suffered their worst defeat of the season.

Risborough had the game’s first chance with Ben Sturges hitting the ball over the bar, but three minutes later Rawn Seale had Leverstock’s best effort of the game, shooting just wide from outside the penalty area.

The last 15 minutes of the half saw heavy pressure from the visitors, with Sean Coles heading wide from a good chance on 33 minutes and the post being hit in a goalmouth scramble in the 39th minute. Good tackles from both Ryan Carruthers and Sean Walsh inside the penalty area prevented further chances as Leverstock reached the break with the game still goalless.

Eight minutes into the second half Risborough were awarded a penalty, a somewhat harsh handball decision against Ollie Cox, who had the ball hit at him from a couple of yards away. Wyllie stepped up to take the kick but Alfie Bonfield dived to his right to turn the ball round the post.

On 61 minutes Leverstock had their only real effort on goal of the half as Seale shot over the bar after a quick break started by Ethan Mooney. A minute later the ball was at the other end, and fell nicely at the feet of Wyllie, who hit a low shot from the edge of the box that Bonfield got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out as Risborough took the lead.

There was almost a spectacular second for the visitors on 72 minutes as Coles went for an overhead kick which struck the underside of the bar and bounced away. However, the second goal did arrive three minutes later. From a rare Leverstock corner, Wyllie picked the ball up on the edge of his own box and ran the length of the field into the Green box before squaring the ball for Alex Kedzierski to slot home.

As the game continued to be one way traffic, a third goal was added in the 87th minute by Joel Read with a shot from inside the box. In the second minute of stoppage time Risborough were awarded another penalty, this time for a foul by Kian Wilkes. Liam Enver-Marom stepped up to take this one, but again Bonfield guessed the right way and kept the penalty out.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Ollie Cox (17. Brad Robinson 85 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Jack Allen, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Ethan Mooney (16. Ethan Holt 77 mins), 8. Ryan Carruthers (14. Lewis Collins 67 mins), 9. Rawn Seale, 10, Sean Walsh, 11. Nagheeb Ibrahim. Subs not used: 12. Temi Bankole, 15. Alfie Herd.
Risborough Rangers (0) 3 (Wyllie 62, Kedzierski 75, Read 87)
Team: 1. Jack Brooker, 3. Lewis Patrick, 4. Joel Read, 5. Josh Urquhart, 6. Alex Kedzierski, 8. Asher Yearwood, 10. Marcus Wyllie (2. Bertie Squires-Adams 84 mins), 11. Sean Coles, 16. Ben Sturges, 18. Gavin James (9. Liam Enver-Marom 79 mins), 19. Kieran Schmidt (21. Evans Lamboh 88 mins). Subs not used: 7. Adam Morris, 22. Bailey Osborne.