Match Report

Leverstock Green’s current struggles continued as they fell to a third straight away defeat in Tuesday night’s SSML Premier Division game at Potton United. A poor start to the game gave them an uphill task to get anything out of the game.

Leverstock were boosted by the return to the side of Dan Weeks, Ibrahim Nagheeb and Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, but it was Potton who got off to a very fast start which left the Green side chasing shadows in the early part of the game. In the third minute Austin Byfield pulled off a good save to keep out a header from Steve Gentle, however in the 12th minute a cross into the six-yard box was not cleared and Tommy Blennerhassett was able to blast home from close range.

Worse was to follow three minutes later when Blennerhasset was through on goal and slotted the ball under Byfield to double Potton’s lead before Leverstock had even got going.

In the 24th minute, however, Chris Blunden found space on the right side of the box and lofted in a cross which Stefanoaica headed home to put Leverstock back in the game at 2-1.

The scores could have been levelled in the 29th minute when Blunden played a great pass to put Stefanoaica through on goal, but keeper Craig Foxall saved his shot. Stefanoaica was in again in the 39th minute from another precise pass from Nagheeb, but his shot drifted wide of the target.

The second half was evenly-contested, but for all their possession Leverstock created little. In the 64th minute Weeks got on the end of a Nagheeb corner, but headed wide. There were plenty of other set-pieces, but too many of them were either overhit or easily claimed by Foxall.

At the other end Byfield made a couple of good saves to keep his side in the game, but Potton were able to hang on to their win, with Leverstock becoming increasingly frustrated by the home side’s time wasting tactics.

Potton United (2) 2 (Blennerhassett 12, 15)
1. Craig Foxall, 2. Lil Francisco, 3. Alfie Warman, 4. Fabio Buffano, 5. Steve Gentle (17. Sam Olawale 90 mins), 6. James Smith, 7. Jack Thomas (12. Louis Octave 78 mins), 8. Sam Willis, 10. Tommy Blennerhassett (18. Josh Brown 90+3 mins), 11. Callum Wilson, 14. Josh Howard-Dobson. Sub not used: 9. Dave Parkinson.
Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Stefanoaica 24)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Bobby Armstrong (14. Alvin Kyeremeh 57 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers (12. Elgeniy Daalberg 72 mins), 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Danny May (17. Dan Pett 62 mins), 9. Chris Blunden, 10. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Subs not used: 15. Kurainashe Musanhi, 16. Ayomide Oke.