Match Report

Leverstock Green’s wildly fluctuating league form continued as they followed up last week’s big win over Baldock with another heavy defeat away to Cockfosters. The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the difference between the sides, but Leverstock Green FC were guilty of too many mistakes at the back and most were punished by a Cockfosters side showing some clinical finishing.

There was little sign of what was to come during an opening 15 minutes of evenly-contested football that had forced neither keeper into a serious save. However, in the 16th minute a cross from Antonio Michael found Ethan Rookard all alone at the far post to head Cockfosters into a 1-0 lead.

Leverstock Green FC were making little headway against a solid Cockfosters defence. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica twice managed to spring the offside trap but both times ended up with his back to goal and unable to get a shot in. In the 29th minute Leverstock had a free kick in a dangerous position 20 yards out, but Danny May’s effort was blocked by the wall. Three minutes later Leverstock finally broke through the home defence as Ademide Baruwa curled a cross into the box and Stefanoaica got on the end of it to stab home the equaliser.

Having fought their way back into the match, a momentary lapse in concentration saw them fall behind again before the break. The ball was given away just outside the Leverstock box, and the defence was left completely flat-footed as Reece Barratt threaded a pass through to Ethan Rookard, who slotted the ball past Josh Bowler for his second goal in the 39th minute. Cockfosters might have added a third late in the half but for a headed clearance off the line from Rio Beach.

The game was still delicately poised going into the second half, and Leverstock certainly had more of the ball in the opening stages. Cockfosters might have added a third goal on 51 minutes, but were denied by a double save from Bowler. The third goal was on its way, though, and when Cockfosters broke away in the 58th minute, a slip from May left Harrison Rookard through on a goal to hit a shot which somehow squirmed through Bowler’s hands for a 3-1 scoreline.

It went from bad to worse for Leverstock Green FC in the 63rd minute as Cockfosters cut through the Green defence with a passing move before Michael curled a shot into the top corner for an impressive fourth goal, and again in the 69th minute as another defensive mistake was pounced on by Harrison Rookard and finished by Michael for his second.

Leverstock pulled a goal back in the 75th minute as George Mitchell-Gears took advantge of confusion between Jay Lovell and keeper Charlie Mann to slot into an empty net, but it was little more than consolation. George Lutaaya should have added a sixth for Cockfosters in the 87th minute, left through on goal by yet another muffed defensive header, but he somehow shot over the bar from a couple of yards out.

Leverstock Green FC will need to turn things around quickly before the visit of St Panteleimon to the Lords Builders Merchants Stadium on Tuesday night. Saints were beaten by Leverstock on the opening day of the season but have since gone on a winning run to lead the table by five points.

Cockfosters FC (2) 5 (E.Rookard 16, 39, H.Rookard 58, Michael 63, 69)
1. Charlie Mann, 2. Kenny Nobrega (12. Jerrell Cato 83 mins), 3. Gideon Sarpong, 4. Matt Thompson (14. Chris Griffin 74 mins), 5. Aiden Read, 6. Jay Lovell, 7. Antonio Michael, 8. Ollie Finch (15. Matthew Ball 74 mins), 9. Harrison Rookard, 10. Reece Barrett (16. Luca Gordon 74 mins), 11. Ethan Rookard (17. George Lutaaya 67 mins).
Leverstock Green FC (1) 2 (Stefanoaica 32, Mitchell-Gears 75)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Brad Robinson (17. Mike Havill-Tierney 52 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Danny May, 5. Callum Neal, 6. Nat Connolly, 7. Luke Beckwith (15. Lewis Collins 68 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (15. Ethan Mooney 68 mins), 10. Ademide Baruwa (16. Joe Sadler 62 mins), 11. George Mitchell-Gears. Sub not used: 12. Ryan Carruthers.