Match Report

Leverstock Green’s run in the Emirates FA Cup ended at the Preliminary Round stage, but they put up a very good display against Isthmian League side Walthamstow in front of an attendance of 415 at Wadham Lodge. It was two mistakes late on which cost Leverstock Green FC their chance of progressing further in the competition.

It was Leverstock Green FC who had the game’s first chance in the 6th minute as a shot from Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica brought a diving save out of home keeper Matt Nolan. Leverstock had goalkeeper Austin Byfield back in the side after his return from holiday, and Byfield confidently plucked a few crosses out of the air in the early stages. In the 15th minute Walthamstow went close when Carl Mensah got his head to a cross but with not a strong enough touch to divert it into the net.

The home side went in front in the 24th minute. Jared Small beat Mikey Havill-Tierney on the left and got to the bye-line, where he pulled back a cross for big striker Duncan Culley to shoot home the opening goal.

Leverstock Green FC kept pushing forward, and in the 34th minute there was a promising moment when Stefanoaica was running at goal with Chris Blunden shouting for a pass, but the pass never came and the chance was gone. A minute later Blunden had a golden opportunity to equalise when a chipped cross from Havill-Tierney found him all alone in front of goal with only the keeper to beat .Assuming he was offside, Blunden hit his shot straight at the keeper, however the assistant’s flag stayed down and it was a chance missed.

A minute before half time Byfield pulled off a superb save to tip a shot from George Ironton over the bar, and in stoppage time saved a shot on the run from Damaray Anyadike. Between those efforts Rio Beach had a decent attempt for Leverstock with a shot from distance that went wide.

The second half started with Leverstock very much on the front foot, and in the 54th minute they got a deserved equaliser. Luke Beckwith sent over a cross from the left touchline to the far post, where Stefanoaica headed it back across goal, finding Dan Pett to volley home the equaliser from six yards out.

Leverstock Green FC lost Stefanoaica to injury in the 67th minute, being replaced by Lewis Collins. It was Collins who had the chance to put Leverstock into the lead in the 74th minute when he was through on goal, but his shot went agonisingly wide. That proved crucial, as within seconds Walthamstow were at the other end. Nolan’s long goal kick was not dealt with by Dan Weeks, and substitute Jordan Watson nipped in to steal the ball and shoot past Byfield for a 2-1 lead.

Leverstock continued to push for an equaliser, and Collins made a great effort to get on the end of a through pass from Pett in the 86th minute, but the defender came out on top. The killer blow followed two minutes later. An attempted clearance from Byfield cannoned off the nearby Watson, and as the ball rebounded back towards goal it was a race as to which of the two would get to it first, and it was Watson who got there to slot the ball into the empty net for his second and Walthamstow’s third goal.

Leverstock continue with cup action next Saturday when they host Ampthill Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase.

Walthamstow (1) 3 (Culley 24, Watson 75, 88)
1. Matt Nolan, 2. Jared Small, 3. Tamas Amgbaduba (14. Jay Rolfe 58 mins), 4. Sharn Quinn (12. Jordan Watson 52 mins), 5. Carl Mensah, 6. Jardell Stirling, 7. Damaray Anyadike, 8. Kieran Turner (16. George Hellen 64 mins), 9. Duncan Culley, 10. George Ironton, 11. Callum Ibe. Subs not used: 15. Louis Mallandian, 17. Percival Winter, 20. Ashlee Jones.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Pett 54)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Danny May, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Lewis Collins 67 mins). Subs not used: 14. George Mitchell-Gears, 15. Endrit Krasniqi, 16. Daniel Lodovica, 17. Connor McGinty, 18. Brad Robinson, GK. Darren Bonfield.