Match Report

Leverstock Green FC continued their winning start to the 2023/24 season as they recorded a comfortable 4-0 win over league newcomers Stansted FC in their opening home league match. Stansted have been transferred from the Essex Senior League, and last week registered a notable FA Cup win over last season’s SSML Premier Division runners-up Stotfold, but Leverstock were in control of this game from early on.

The game was a milestone for the club as it was the 100th competitive game in charge for Fergus Moore, Scott McGleish and Darren Bonfield.

As in last Saturday’s FA Cup win over White Ensign, Leverstock Green FC raced out to a 2-0 lead early on. In the 6th minute Nat Connolly went on a run down the right and crossed into the box, wher Chris Blunden laid the ball back for George Mitchell-Gears to shoot home from the edge of the box and open the scoring.

Five minutes later it was 2-0. This time it was Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica who ran clear down the right and sent over a cross which eluded Mitchell-Gears, but Chris Blunden was there to shoot home with another confident finish.

Further goals were threatened as Stefanoaica twice hit shots over the bar, and in the 36th minute Leverstock had another chance when they were awarded a free kick just outside the box, but Blunden’s kick was comfortably gathered by Stansted keeper Harrison Crowther. However, the third goal was not long in arriving. On 38 minutes Ryan Carruthers broke away from the halfway line before feeding the ball to Luke Beckwith, and it was another excellent composed finish as Beckwith fired home for a 3-0 Leverstock Green FC lead.

There were further chances late in the half as a run from Rio Beach set up Carruthers for a shot which was well saved by Crowther, and the keeper did well again a minute later, coming off his line to deny Stefanoaica after he had been put through by a pass from Mitchell-Gears.

Stansted made a triple substitution at half time, but it did not change the course of the game. The visitors had a chance in the 53rd minute when a defensive slip let Jack Marshall through on goal, but Loris Marcimain produced a good save to keep the shot out. That proved crucial, as a minute later at the other end, Rio Beach hit a shot from outside the box which Crowther could only parry away, and Mitchell-Gears followed up to squeeze home the rebound from a very tight angle and make it 4-0 to Leverstock Green FC.

With the game largely in the bag, Fergus Moore began making substitutions. The first of them saw Danny May replace Callum Neal, and within a minute May produced a superb goallline clearance after some sloppy play had given Stansted a shooting chance. All five substitutes were used, including first team debuts for two 17-year olds – Luc Dischamps and Connor McGinty, who had impressed with displays for the Under-18s and Development Team respectively in midweek. McGinty came closest to getting his name on the scoresheet with a shot just over the angle of post and bar in the 78th minute.

Leverstock Green FC maintained their clean sheet to the end of the game, although there was a scare in the 90th minute when Billy Gannon had a shooting chance but put it over the bar. Next up for the Leverstock side is a tough visit to FC Romania on Wednesday night.

Leverstock Green FC (3) 4 (Mitchell-Gears 6, 54, Blunden 11, Beckwith 38)
1. Loris Marcimain, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney (17. Brad Robinson 68 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Callum Neal (15. Danny May 63 mins), 5. Dan Weeks, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Nat Connolly (16. Connor McGinty 68 mins), 9. Chris Blunden (14. Ryan Hennessy 75 mins), 10. George Mitchell-Gears, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Luc Dischamps 73 mins).
Stansted FC (0) 0
1. Harrison Crowther, 2. Tom Millett (13. Billy Coyne 63 mins), 3. Charlie Adams (14. Archie Hammond H/T), 4. Carl Conway, 5. John Clarke, 6. Freddie Burrell (15. Fin Gregory H/T), 7. Louis Monk, 8. Jake Barlow, 9. Cabhan Clarke, 10. Jack Mitchell (12. Billy Gannon 64 mins), 11. Stan Gurney (16. Samuel Adetiba H/T).

Our next SSML Premier League match is on Wednesday 16th August 2023 AWAY to FC Romania, 7:45pm.