Match Report

Leverstock Green FC continued their promising start to their SSML league campaign as they registered an excellent 2-0 win against highly-fancied Harpenden Town on Tuesday night. This local derby attracted an impressive attendance of 118 to the Lords Builders Merchants Stadium.

There was action within the opening 20 seconds as Jayden Newman hit a shot which forced visiting keeper Emmanuel Olajide into a save. Harpenden then had a spell of pressure at the other end, winning a couple of corners which were punched away by Austin Byfield. Chris Blunden had a shot at goal in the sixth minute which went over the bar.

The game then settled down into an even contest between two well-matched teams. In the 28th minute Newman got his head to a Dan Pett corner but Olajide gathered the ball. Two minutes later Blunden swung in a free kick which Dan Weeks just failed to get enough of a touch on to divert into the net. In the 34th minute a move involving several players concluded with Blunden rolling a backheel into the path of Luke Beckwith, who ran onto take the ball around Olajide and slot into the net to put Leverstock into a 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later there was a scare at the other end as a Harpenden cross dropped onto the crossbar. A minute before the break Leverstock Green FC had another chance when a pass from Blunden put Beckwith in again, but this time his shot was kept out by a save from Olajide.

The second half was similarly evenly-contested. Harpenden had a good chance in the 50th minute when James Ewington received the ball six yards out but his shot went across goal and wide. In the 58th minute Leverstock Green FC should have extended their lead when a chipped pass forward from Rio Beach put Newman through on goal, but the ball ran just too far ahead of him and Olajide was able to come off his line and make the save.

Harpenden had a number of good opportunities during the half but they were either off-target or comfortably gathered by Byfield. With 20 minutes remaining, Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica made his return from injury, coming off the bench to replace Blunden. In the 77th minute Harpenden rolled the dice by bringing on their last three substitutes on, but it was Leverstock’s earlier sub that proved more effective. In the 81st minute Stefanoaica showed a dazzling turn of pace as he broke away down the right, outpacing the defenders before cutting in and slotting past Olajide for a second Leverstock Green FC goal.

As the visitors pushed forward during stoppage time there was almost a third Leverstock goal on the break. Stefanoaica ran clear down the right again and squared for Lewis Collins, but his shot was somehow deflected wide for a corner. The two goals proved to be enough as Leverstock’s all-round excellent team performance won them the three points.

Leverstock Green FC (1) 2 (Beckwith 34, Stefanoaica 81)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney (15. Ethan Mooney 83 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Callum Neal, 6. Danny May, 7. Ryan Carruthers, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden (17. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica 70 mins), 10. Jayden Newman (12. Lewis Collins 88 mins), 11. Luke Beckwith (14. Nat Connolly 77 mins). Sub not used: 16. Brad Robinson.
Harpenden Town FC (0) 0
1. Emmanuel Olajide, 2. Jake Collins (17. James Younger 77 mins), 3. George Robinson (15. Curtis Dibley 77 mins), 4. Kyle Rahho, 5. Dan Palmer, 6. Mickey Shuttlewood, 7. Hadley Gleeson (12. Josh Kassaye 60 mins), 8. Dave Keenleyside, 9. James Ewington, 10. Harry Andic (14. Spencer O’Leary 57 mins), 11. Isaiah Hilaire (16. Ivan Machado 77 mins)

Next Game – Saturday 02nd September 2023 / Dunstable Town FC