Match Report

Leverstock Green FC bounced back from their defeat to Dunstable Town last week with a 3-1 win away to Shefford Town and Campton in sweltering conditions on Saturday. It was a game that Leverstock generally dominated, and the margin of victory could have been much bigger were it not for an impressive performance from former Leverstock keeper Alfie Bonfield in the Shefford goal.

The first of many chances came in the second minute when a long kick from Austin Byfield found Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica running through on goal. Stefanoaica’s lob cleared Bonfield but landed just the wrong side of the post. In the 7th minute Chris Blunden had a good chance as he turned on the edge of the six yard box and shot, but Bonfield saved. Two minutes later Stefanoaica went on a run down the right before cutting in and heading for goal, but his shot was tipped over the bar by a superb save from Bonfield. Stefanoaica was in again in the 19th minute and took the ball past Bonfield, but was unable to squeeze a shot through the defenders on the line.

The home side’s first chance came in the 38th minute when Dan Hammer got in ahead of a Leverstock Green FC defender to meet a cross with a close-range header, but Byfield did well to turn it away. At the other end a minute later a pass from Dan Pett put Blunden in with a shooting chance. Blunden’s shot was kept out by another superb stop from Bonfield, and Stefanoaica’s effort from the rebound was cleared off the line by Hammer.

With Leverstock’s forwards having no luck in finding the net, it was down to a midfielder to open the scoring. A pass from Blunden put Pett in with a chance, and he hit a beautiful strike from the edge of the box with the outside of his boot that finally saw Bonfield beaten and put Leverstock into a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

The lead could have been doubled in first half stoppage time as a pass from Blunden put Stefanoaica clean through yet again, but again Bonfield produced a save to turn his shot wide, and keep the half time score down to 1-0.

In the 53rd minute another long kick from Byfield put Stefanoaica through on goal again, but this time his lob over Bonfield dropped just over the bar. With so many chances being squandered it left Leverstock Green FC vulnerable to a surprise goal by the home side, and so it proved in the 56th minute as two recently-introduced substitutes combined. Kurtis Alleyne’s pass put Callum Mullins in to shoot past Byfield for the equaliser.

The scores were only level for a couple of minutes, though. In the 59th minute a pass from Blunden put Stefanoaica through yet again, and this time he slotted past Bonfield to put Leverstock back in front at 2-1.

There was a chance for a third goal in the 65th minute as a pass from Stefanoaica set up Dan Weeks with a chance which he struck very well, but again Bonfield was there to turn it round the post. Bonfield pulled off another great save in the 73rd minute to tip a shot from Pett onto the bar, however seconds later Lewis Collins swung over a cross and Stefanoaica came in to head home the third goal from close range.

That proved to be enough for another three points which takes Leverstock Green FC up to sixth place in the Premier Division table.

Shefford Town & Campton FC (0) 1 (Mullins 56)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Ryan Lewis, 3. Chris Uchenna, 6. Dan Hammer, 7. Luke Baranowski, 8. Sam Day, 9. Dimagio Robinson, 10. Devonte Simms, 11. Scott Metcalfe, 14. Louie Dillon, 16. Carmichael Uchenna. Subs (all used): 5. Tariq Foster, 12. Luke Carter, 15. Callum Mullins, 17. Josh Griggs, 20. Kurtis Alleyne.
Leverstock Green FC (1) 3 (Pett 42, Stefanoaica 59, 73)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Ethan Mooney (17. Mikey Havill-Tierney 83 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Danny May, 6. Callum Neal (16. Brad Robinson 76 mins), 7. Ryan Carruthers (12. Ademide Baruwa 79 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden (14. Lewis Collins 68 mins), 10. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (15. Oscar Evans 90+1 mins), 11. Nat Connolly.