Match Report

Leverstock Green FC suffered a 4-1 defeat in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division visit to Potton United. The margin of defeat was harsh, but it was certainly a deserved win for Potton.

Leverstock were without top scorer Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, who was serving a one-match suspension for too many yellow cards, and with Dan Pett also unavailable the side had a different look to recent games. It took the Leverstock side some time to get going, by which time they were already two goals down. A save from Austin Byfield kept out a shot from Lewis Lynn in the 12th minute, however in the 16th minute a deflected effort from Victor Osobu put Potton into a 1-0 lead.

A second goal in the 29th minute proved even more damaging and it was a soft goal to concede. A long throw into the box found keeper and defenders leaving it to each other, and it appeared that James Smith got the last touch to put the ball over the line.

Leverstock finally started to put some pressure on the Potton goal from the 35th minute, winning a series of corners, but were unable to make anything of them. In the last minute of the half Rio Beach showed some impressive footwork on the edge of the penalty area before hitting a curling shot which beat the keeper but came back off the bar. A minute later Beach was in again with a run down the right, but his eventual shot was kept out by the keeper. Deep into first half stoppage time a foul on Ryan Carruthers gave Leverstock a free kick in dangerous territory just outside the box, but Chris Blunden’s effort hit the defensive wall.

Leverstock Green FC continued their promising form from the end of the first half into the start of the second half. A foul on Blunden presented Leverstock with another free kick just outside the box, but this time Lewis Collins was unable to get the ball over the wall. Seconds later a Potton player handled the ball. Some felt that it was inside the box, but the verdict of the referee and linesman was that it happened inches outside the box. Blunden stepped up to take this free kick, and this time blasted it through the wall and into the net to put Leverstock back into the game at 2-1 in the 50th minute.

There were three further free kick opportunities for Leverstock Green FC in dangerous positions before the hour mark, but none of them produced a shot to threaten the Potton goal. Instead it was the home side who took advantage of a free kick at the other end in the 68th minute, as Shane Fox met a cross from the left with a header which went in off the post to make it 3-1 to Potton. Five minutes later Cole Butler had the time and space 30 yards out to hit an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net and put the game out of reach at 4-1.

The closing minutes saw Luke Durnin make his return from injury by coming off the bench to play as a centre-forward, and there was a first team debut for Mayar Hajousman, but Leverstock Green FC never looked like getting back into the game and continued their see-saw series of results.

Potton United FC (2) 4 (Osobu 16, Smith 29, Fox 68, Butler 73)
1. James Hoskins, 2. Jack Thomas, 3. Harry Forde (17. Nathan Mullins 65 mins), 4. Jamal Batchilly, 5. James Smith, 6. Mike Evans, 7. Cole Butler, 8. Michael King, 9. Shane Fox (14. Jaiden Fitzpatrick 88 mins), 10. Victor Osobu (16. Louis Strafford 90 mins), 11. Lewis Lynn (12. Louis Octave 51 mins). Sub not used: 13. Elliot Duffy.
Leverstock Green FC (0) 1 (Blunden 50)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney (14. Luke Durnin 69 mins), 3. Dan Weeks, 4. Danny May, 5. Callum Neal, 6. Ryan Carruthers (17. Mayar Hajousman 82 mins), 7. Lewis Collins (12. Luke Beckwith 62 mins), 8. Rio Beach, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Ethan Mooney. Subs not used: 15. Brad Robinson, 16. Dan Pett.