Match Report

Leverstock Green FC extended their winning run to four games as they came out on top in an entertaining seven-goal thriller at the Maccabi London Sports Ground on Wednesday night. Given that both Leverstock and London Lions have been involved in several high-scoring games this season, plenty of goals were expected here tonight and so it proved.

Leverstock looked lively from the start with Jayden Newman having a run at goal in the 3rd minute, but his shot from a narrow angle was saved by home keeper Nathan Bloohn. At the other end in the 6th minute Josh Bowler had to make a good save to keep out a shot from Felix Shalom. In the 11th minute a great crossfield ball from Luke Beckwith put Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica through on goal, but before he could get his shot away a defender got back to put in a strong challenge which brought some shouts for a penalty, but nothing from the referee.

Two minutes later a chipped pass down the left from Dan Weeks was missed by a defender, allowing Stefanoaica to run clear of the defence before delivering a square ball into the six-yard box which found Jayden Newman to shoot Leverstock into a 1-0 lead. However, the game was end-to-end, and in the 24th minute London Lions equalised as Max Kyte lashed home a shot from inside the box into the roof of the net.

Three minutes later Leverstock were back in front. Bloohn did well to keep out a shot from Newman, and seconds later kept out a close range effort from Stefanoaica, but Leverstock’s top scorer got the ball back and ran across the edge of the six-yard box before turning and firing home a superb shot from a narrow angle.

Stefanoaica could have added a third in the 30th minute but was again denied by a point-blank save from Bloohn. Leverstock were still in front going into first half stoppage time, but could not hold onto their lead. In the second minute of stoppage time a pass from Daniel Creese sliced open the Green defence and put Kyte in to shoot home his second equaliser. Further into stoppage time Leverstock Green FC lost Stefanoaica to what looked like a hamstring injury, with Ethan Mooney coming on in his place.

Leverstock Green FC went in front for a third time in the 54th minute. Rio Beach picked up the ball outside the box, and looked ready to shoot with his left foot, but instead cut back onto his right foot and hit a shot which took a deflection and beat Bloohn into the bottom corner of the net for a 3-2 Leverstock lead.

London Lions continued to play their passing game, but were finding it hard to get past a disciplined Leverstock defence. With ten minutes to play Morgan Grout, who had made his debut for the Development team on Saturday, came off the bench to make his first team debut. Less than two minutes had passed before Grout added his name to the scoresheet. Beckwith’s pass found him on the edge of the box, and Grout hit a superb sidefooted shot past Bloohn to make it 4-2 to Leverstock.

The game looked won, but there was still more drama to come in a lengthy period of stoppage time. Six minutes of added time had been played when a corner dropped for substitute Jack Mordecai at the far post to volley home a goal to pull it back to 4-3. That could have made for yet another tense finish, but fortunately the referee blew for time seconds after the restart to signal another Leverstock Green FC win, which takes them level on points with the teams in second and third place within the SSML Premier Division, but with a vastly inferior goal difference.

London Lions FC (2) 3 (Kyte 24, 45+2, Mordecai 90+6)
1. Nathan Bloohn, 2. Adam Lipman, 3. Barr Slagter, 4. Adam Arnold, 5. Adam Lee, 6. Benji Weinberger, 7. Daniel Creese, 8. Zak Jackson, 9. Max Kyte, 10. Austin Lipman, 11. Felix Shalom. Subs (used): 12. Ezra Aron, 14. Mikey Perkins, 15. Jack Mordecai, 17. Oscar Wagner. (not used) 16. Yoav Wynne.
Leverstock Green FC (2) 4 (Newman 13, Stefanoaica 27, Beach 54, Grout 82)
1. Josh Bowler, 18. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 6. Danny May, 2. Joe Sadler (12. Ademide Baruwa 60 mins), 7. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (16. Ethan Mooney 45+5 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jayden Newman (14. Morgan Grout 80 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Luke Beckwith (15. Mikey Havill-Tierney 90+1 mins). Sub not used: 17. Brad Robinson.