Match Report

It’s now five straight league wins for Leverstock Green FC as they came back from Colney Heath with all three points and moved to within two points of league leaders St Panteleimon. There was little between the sides in Saturday’s A414 derby, but Leverstock took an early lead and held onto it for the rest of the game. Leverstock were without top scorer Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica due to injury, but welcomed back Luke Durnin into the defence after a spell out injured.

The home side had the better of the early play and had a shout for a penalty turned down by the referee. However, it was Leverstock Green FC that went in front in the 6th minute with a somewhat soft goal. Dan Pett hit a low shot from the edge of the penalty area which scuffed along the ground and should have been kept out, but keeper Connor Sansom saw it nestle in the corner of his net.

Durnin’s return from injury proved to be short-lived, as he went down after making a block in the 19th minute and was unable to continue. Pett took his place in the back four with Ademide Baruwa coming on into midfield.

Leverstock Green FC had a chance for a second goal in the 23rd minute with Luke Beckwith looking well-placed for a shot, but he laid off to Jayden Newman, who mishit his shot wide. There was another good chance in the 34th minute when a kick from Josh Bowler gave Newman a run at goal, but he laid off to Beckwith, whose shot was blocked by Dom Knaggs. Two minutes before the break Bowler was forced into his first serious save, turning a shot from Ibrahim Camara round the post.

Four minutes into the second half Baruwa made a run into the penalty area but his shot from a narrow angle was kept out by Sansom, with the rebound just eluding Beckwith. Seconds later Ryan Carruthers hit a shot just wide. The home side, playing down the slope, had more of the possession in the second half but created little with it. Meanwhile Leverstock looked dangerous on the break, with their best chance coming in the 61st minute when a ball from the edge of his own box by Pett put Newman clear of the defence, but his eventual shot went over the bar.

Leverstock Green FC still held their lead going into the closing minutes, and had to withstand the extra presence of Sansom coming up the field twice for corners, and winning the header both times, but the first one went over the bar in the 87th minute and the second one went wide two minutes later. Sansom spent more of the stoppage time period in the Leverstock half than his own half, but the Green defence held out for yet another narrow win.

As well as being a fifth straight league win, it was a third straight away win, and Leverstock Green FC still face a further three away games before their next home league match on November 25th.

Colney Heath FC (0) 0
1. Connor Sansom, 2. Dominic Knaggs, 3. Kia Thomas-Fraser, 4. Ben Kirby (14. Sam Ejjaya 54 mins), 5. Sam Denham (15. Micky Shuttlewood 89 mins), 6. Sam Doolan, 7. Ollie Lawford (16. Adam Wallace 82 mins), 8. Ibrahim Camara (17. Lewis Croucher 82 mins), 9. George Sippetts, 10. Jordan Kinoshi, 11. Jack Percy (12. Billy Owen 62 mins).
Leverstock Green FC (1) 1 (Pett 6)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Luke Durnin (12. Ademide Baruwa 19 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jayden Newman (14. Morgan Grout 70 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Luke Beckwith (15. George Mitchell-Gears 72 mins). Subs not used: 16. Brad Robinson, 17. Joe Sadler.