Match Report

Leverstock Green have suffered only two home defeats this season, and both of them have been to Colney Heath. With the visitors having had a managerial change between the two games, there were only a few players in common between the Colney side that won the Premier Division Cup tie in October, and the side that inflicted Leverstock’s first home league defeat of the season in this game. A week ago against Tring Athletic it was the performance of Leverstock keeper Austin Byfield that won the point, but this time the boot was on the other foot as visiting keeper Liam Studley kept out the Green side with a number of superb saves.

There were few chances in the early part of the game, and Leverstock’s bad luck with centre-backs continued as Alvin Kyeremeh had to be helped off the pitch with an injury in the 19th minute, to be replaced by Bobby Armstrong. Colney Heath had the better of the opening ten minutes, but Leverstock were on top towards the end of the half. They were denied a goal in the last minute of the half by the first of Studley’s great saves. George Mitchell-Gears got on the end of an Ibrahim Nagheeb free kick with a downward header, which Studley got down to save at the base of his post.

Leverstock made a bright start to the second half, but they were forced into another change on 51 minutes when Elgeniy Daalberg replaced Mitchell-Gears. Controversially, the referee restarted play the instant that Daalberg had entered the pitch rather than allowing him to take up his position, and Colney Heath took advantage as a ball was played 60 yards forward to Alex Cathline, who made a powerful run at goal and struck a shot from outside the box which beat Byfield and put his side into a 1-0 lead.

Brad Robinson was sin-binned as a result of protests about the goal, reducing Leverstock to ten men for ten minutes. Once they were back up to eleven the Green side had a number of chances, including a cross from Rio Beach which went just over the angle on 66 minutes and a header from Armstrong which went just over the bar two minutes later. On 76 minutes Ibrahim Nagheeb was fouled just outside the box and stepped up to take the free kick himself. His effort was on target but tipped over the bar by a great save from Studley. A minute later Ryan Carruthers had an effort cleared off the line.

On 79 minutes Leverstock were again reduced to ten men, this time permanently as Luke Beckwith received a second yellow card. There was another free kick in a dangerous position on 84 minutes as Chris Blunden was brought down just outside the box. Blunden took the free kick and again it was on target but Studley dived full length to turn it round the post. Colney Heath were then reduced to ten men as George Taban was sin-binned.

Leverstock continued to push forward as the game threatened to boil over in the closing minutes, and they were perhaps denied a couple more chances as the referee blew for full time after less than two minutes stoppage time, in a half that saw seven substitions and a couple of injury stoppages among others. However, it was a second straight game without a goal, and Fergus Moore’s side will need to find their scoring touch again quickly when they travel to Cockfosters for their next game on Saturday.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Brad Robinson (15. Adrian Pitfield 64 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Danny May (20. Scott McGleish 70 mins), 5. Alvin Kyeremeh (18. Bobby Armstrong 19 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. George Mitchell-Gears (12. Elgeniy Daalberg 51 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney. Sub not used: 14. Ayomide Oke.
Colney Heath (0) 1 (Cathline 52 mins)
1. Liam Studley, 2. George Taban, 3. Bradley Dixon-Smith, 4. Marco Geremia, 5. Shim Eaton-Bonnick, 6. Myles John (17. Taran Rattrey 68 mins), 7. Jayden Silcott-Brown, 8. Vass Mandeville, 9. Alex Cathline (14. Kamel El-Maghur 60 mins), 10. Serge Erkarslan (16. Alex Dubniuc 60 mins), 11. Hadley Gleeson (15. James Samways 80 mins). Sub not used: 12. Clarence Emeh.