Match Report

Leverstock Green FC suffered a heartbreaking exit from the Herts Senior Cup at the first round stage on Monday night. Going into stoppage time they were a goal up against Southern League Premier side Hitchin Town, but a last gasp equaliser sent the tie to penalties, which Hitchin won 4-3 despite the heroics of keeper Josh Bowler.

Leverstock played well from the outset and had the better of a first half which saw little in the way of clear-cut chances or saves despite some promising attacking play. Leverstock’s best chance came in the 33rd minute when a pass from Ademide Baruwa set Ethan Mooney clear to deliver a ball to the far post which found Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, but Leverstock’s top scorer pulled his shot across goal. At the other end Hitchin had a couple of shots off-target, but nothing to seriously trouble Bowler.

By contrast, the second half saw bags of goalmouth action at both ends.Three minutes in, a corner from Dan Pett found Callum Neal at the near post with a glancing header that hit the far post. A minute later at the other end a Hitchin cross hit the post and rebounded quickly towards an attacker who could only help the ball back into the arms of Bowler. In the 61st minute a pass from Baruwa put Jayden Newman in with a chance but his shot was just wide. A Hitchin corner in the 69th minute resulted in a goalmouth scramble that included a goalline clearance and an incredible save from Bowler.

Another Hitchin corner in the 73rd minute resulted in a goal, but it was Leverstock who scored it with a lightning break. Rio Beach played a ball out of defence for Stefanoaica to chase, and after leaving a defender in his wake, Stefanoaica squared for Luke Beckwith, who took a touch before slotting home a shot five minutes after coming off the bench.

Stefanoaica might have added a second goal in the 83rd minute with a run at goal, but sent his shot over the bar. Two minutes from time Hitchin sub Isaac Galliford had a clear shooting chance on the edge of the box and aimed his shot for the top corner, but Bowler pulled off an unbelievable save to tip it over the bar.

It looked like that save might be the game winner as the game went into stoppage time with Leverstock still leading. However, in the third minute of stoppage time Hitchin broke down the left, and a ball into the box found Temi Akinbusoye sliding in to net the equaliser from close range. Hitchin might even have won it with Leverstock Green FC surviving further goalmouth scrambles in the dying seconds.

The game went into a penalty shoot out. Jack Snelus led off for Hitchin with a successful kick, while Ethan Mooney’s opening kick for Leverstock was saved by keeper Charlie Horlock. Galliford made it 2-0 to Hitchin before Beckwith pulled one back. The door was opened when Kavan Cotter blazed Hitchin’s third out of the ground, but Rio Beach saw his kick hit the bar. The door remained open when Bowler pulled off a great save to keep out Hitchin’s fourth from Bradley Bell, and Scott McGleish levelled the shoot out at 2-2 after four each. It was 3-3 after Akinbusoye and Stefanoaica were both successful with their kicks. Bowler got very close to saving Hitchin’s sixth kick, but it crept just inside the post, and when Mikey Havill-Tierney’s effort was saved by Horlock it was all over with Hitchin winning the shootout 4-3.

Despite the final outcome the Leverstock Green FC side should feel very proud of an outstanding performance from start to finish against a team who play two levels higher.

Hitchin Town FC (0) 1 (Akinbusoye 90+3)
1. Charlie Horlock, 2. Kye Tearle (12. Bradley Bell 65 mins), 3. Layne Eadie, 4. Stan Georgiou, 5. Daniel Emovon, 6. Lewis Barker, 7. Kavan Cotter, 8. Stephen Gleeson, 9. Jack Snelus, 10. Dan Idiakhoa (15. Temi Akinbusoye H/T), 11. Finlay Wilkinson (14. Isaac Galliford 65 mins). Subs not used: 16. Chris Khoo, 17. Henry Silver.
Leverstock Green FC (0) 1 (Beckwith 73)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Brad Robinson (16. Mikey Havill-Tierney 78 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Callum Neal (20. Scott McGleish 90+4 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, 8. Dan Pett (15. Joe Sadler 83 mins), 9. Jayden Newman (12. Luke Beckwith 68 mins), 10. Ademide Baruwa (14. George Mitchell-Gears 74 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney.