Match Report

AET, Leverstock Green won 4-2 on penalties.

Leverstock Green were heading out of the FA Cup, as they trailed St Panteleimon 2-0 in their FA Cup replay with just two minutes to play. However, they produced another amazing comeback to take the tie into extra time, and after a goal apiece during extra time, they held their nerve to win the penalty shoot out 4-2. Their reward is a glamour tie away to Billericay Town in the First Round Qualifying on Saturday 3rd September.

There was a late change to the Leverstock line-up with Austin Byfield replacing Josh Mollison, who was held up in traffic, as the starting goalkeeper. There were few chances early in the game. Ryan Carruthers got the ball across the face of goal in the 11th minute, but no-one was there to put it in. In the 18th minute the home side had a free kick in a dangerous position but it was hit low and straight at Byfield. Rio Beach had to clear off the line in the 21st minute, while at the other end a minute later Alvin Kyemereh put the ball into the six yard box, but it was cleared by Renzo Alves.

The home side were looking the more dangerous, and they took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when Ahmed Doukhi hit a fierce shot from distance that left Byfield standing as it flew into the net. They should have had a second goal in the 41st minute when Doukhi intercepted a back header from Rio Beach, but with the goal at his mercy he shot wide.

Leverstock had a good chance for an equaliser in the 57th minute when Chris Blunden crossed into the six yard box. Lewis Collins slid in at the far post but put the ball just wide. Five minutes later a simple pass down the middle opened up the Green defence and the home side doubled their lead with a shot past Byfield. They were much the better side at this time and had a number of other efforts at goal, some bringing saves out of Byfield and others missing the target or hitting the woodwork.

By contrast Leverstock were creating little and had not even brought a save out of home keeper Diego Pereira. The introduction of Scott McGleish with ten minutes left perked things up, but with two minutes remaining there seemed little chance of saving their FA Cup hopes. However, in the 88th minute Alvin Kyeremeh lofted a pass from has own half towards McGleish near the opposition corner flag. McGleish did well to hold the ball up before laying back to Luke Beckwith, who played a crossfield pass to Dan Pett. Pett controlled the ball with his first touch and ran on to strike a superb shot into the bottom corner of the net with his second touch to give Leverstock a glimmer of hope.

The home side were clearly rattled at the prospect of blowing another 2-0 lead, and as Leverstock pushed forward in stoppage time, the equaliser was not long in coming. Dan Weeks hurled a long throw into the box, Kyeremeh flicked it on and Rio Beach headed it on further towards Ryan Carruthers, who controlled it with his first touch, and with his second touch sent another rocket of a shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

That took the tie into extra time, and 11 minutes into the first period it looked like the turnaround was complete. Byfield launched a long kick upfield which was flicked on by McGleish. Beckwith picked the ball up, held off the challenge of a defender and laid off to the overlapping Elgeniy Daalberg, who fired home from seven yards to put Leverstock into a 3-2 lead.

There was still more drama to come, though. A minute before the break, a ball was chipped forward into the Leverstock box. Substitute Brad Robinson got into a spot of confusion with Byfield, and allowed a forward to get in between them to stab the ball home and level the scores at 3-3. Early in the second period Leverstock almost went back in front when Beckwith was through but hit his shot against the bar. There were no further goals in extra time so the tie went to penalties.

Blunden netted Leverstock’s first, while Moura replied for the home side. Carruthers made it 2-1 before Alves levelled at 2-2. Beckwith scored Leverstock’s third, and when Byfield saved from Monti, they had a 3-2 lead. McGleish then made it 4-2, and when Afonso put his kick over the bar it was all over.

Leverstock now have the £1,444 prize money for this round in their pocket, and will now travel to Billericay, relegated last season from National League South, to play in front of a likely 500+ crowd at New Lodge in the First Round Qualifying on 3rd September.

St Panteleimon (1) 3 (Doukhi 28, TBA 62, TBA 114)
1. Diego Pereira, 2. Renzo Alves, 4. Alex Androutsos, 5. Clayton Afonso, 6. Joao Praes (13. Ben Dunkwu 75 mins), 7. Ahmed Doukhi (17. George Androutsos 100 mins), 8. Jonathan Moura, 9. Dean Morgan (16. Emerson Silva 75 mins), 10. Guilherme Monti, 11. Ayub Albadri (18. Courney Massay 81 mins), 12. Felipe Diaz. Subs not used: 3. Brad Gilmaney, 15. Donald Manaj, 20. Marco Gerimia.
Leverstock Green (0) 3 (Pett 88, Carruthers 90+2, Daalberg 101)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Alvin Kyeremeh, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Luke Durnin (14. Brad Robinson 100 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Lewis Collins (20. Scott McGleish 81 mins), 8. Dan Pett (15. Kai Stonnell 92 mins), 9. Chris Blunden, 10. Sean Walsh (12. Elgeniy Daalberg 69 mins), 11. Luke Beckwith. Sub not used: GK. Josh Mollison.