Match Report

Leverstock Green FC got back to winning ways after two straight defeats, as they progressed to the second round of the Gladwish Challenge Trophy with a 3-0 home win over Division One side Northampton Sileby Rangers.

There was little action of note during the first half, with Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica having the best moment of the half in the 12th minute, barrelling through the visitors’ defence before hitting a shot that struck the bar. Three minutes before the break Luke Beckwith had a good effort which went across goal and wide. Sileby occasionally threatened on the break, but lost their main source of danger five minutes before half time when forward Nathan Burrows had to go off injured.

It was a much more positive Leverstock Green FC side that came out after the break. In the 47th minute Beckwith made a driving run into the box but his shot was kept out by a one-handed save from keeper Dean Love. Two minutes later Love saved again to keep out a shot from Rawn Seale after Leverstock put together an impressive sweeping move from their own half.

In the 53rd minute Seale got on the end of a Dan Pett corner but his header was straight at Love, who also saved again seconds later when Pett had a clear shooting chance.

Finally in the 58th minute Leverstock Green FC took a deserved lead. After good work from Stefanoaica down the right, Ryan Carruthers played a pass from the edge of the box into the path of Beckwith, whose shot from a narrow angle went in despite Love getting a hand to it.

In the 68th minute Sileby were threatening, but Josh Drain’s cross to the far post was well headed away by Rio Beach. On 72 minutes Jake Bettles could have been through on goal but for a foul from Danny May which earned the Leverstock man a yellow card. The second goal arrived in the 76th minute, and it was something of a gift from the visitors, as a defender played the ball straight to Stefanoaica, but it was still an exquisite finish from Stefanoaica, planting a perfect chip over the stranded Love from 30 yards out.

Lewis Collins came off the bench after the goal and almost added his name to the scoresheet within two minutes, running onto a great pass from Callum Neal to go clean through, but being denied by a good save from Love. The third goal eventually came in the 88th minute, created by May with a cross from the left and finished from close range by George Mitchell-Gears.

The win takes Leverstock Green FC into the second round, where they will be at home to Dunstable Town or Sawbridgeworth Town, and is also a confidence booster ahead of next Saturday’s visit to high-flying Milton Keynes Irish.

Leverstock Green (0) 3 (Beckwith 58, Stefanoaica 76, Mitchell-Gears 88)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney (15. Ethan Mooney 54), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Danny May, 5. Callum Neal, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith (12. Lewis Collins 76 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale (14. George Mitchell-Gears 73 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (16. Joe Sadler 83 mins). Sub not used: 19. Scott McGleish.
Northampton Sileby Rangers (0) 0
1. Dean Love, 2. Aidan Bradshaw (17. Beppe Freitas 64 mins), 3. Dan Mortimer, 4. Luke Stevens, 5. Stuart Smeathers, 6. Jake Nagy, 7. Jacob Thompson (16. Josh Drain 67 mins), 8. Lewis Kennedy (14. Michael Cirelli 73 mins), 9. Nathan Burrows (15. Jake Bettles 40 mins), 10. Iain Blaikie, 11. Zac Allen. Sub not used: 12. Jake Daldy.