Match Report

Leverstock Green kept their playoff hopes on track with a 3-1 win at Crawley Green in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division fixture. It wasn’t pretty, but it was another crucial three points in the bag.

With St Panteleimon having suddenly withdrawn from the league this week, and their results being expunged from the table, Leverstock found themselves four points down from where they were a few days ago, losing more points than any other club in playoff contention. Leverstock were also without a striker for this game, with Rawn Seale away and Guiseppe Delgaudio starting a three-game suspension. The hugely influential Dan Pett was also unavailable today.

Leverstock had a chance in the opening thirty seconds of the game, with Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica crossing to find Luke Beckwith, but his header went wide of the target. Leverstock had much the better of possession during the early stages, but were unable to create much from it. Stefanoaica was through on goal from a long kick by Josh Bowler, but chose to cut back and square the ball for Ethan Mooney, but his pass was overhit.

It took until the 38th minute for Leverstock to finally make the deserved breakthrough. Ademide Baruwa did well on the left touchline to set up a shot for Rio Beach, which was blocked across goal. Callum Neal laid the ball back for Stefanoaica, who finished with a superb shot into the top corner.

There was an even better goal to come in first half stoppage time as Baruwa played the ball to Mooney, with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area. Mooney ran along the edge of the area before unleashing a fantastic strike into the top corner which gave former Leverstock keeper Adi Connolly no chance and sent Leverstock into the break with a healthy 2-0 lead.

There was a change at half time, with Stefanoaica being replaced by Lewis Collins. In the 56th minute a pass from Mooney put Collins clear of the defence, but his attempt to square to Beckwith was cut out by Connolly. Leverstock were still looking comfortable with a two goal lead until the 60th minute when that lead was reduced. A poor challenge from Josh Dooley just outside the box earned the Leverstock defender a yellow card and gave Crawley a free kick in a dangerous position. Harry Peterson’s free kick eluded the Leverstock wall and ended up nestling in the bottom corner of Bowler’s net.

There was a chance for Leverstock to re-establish their two-goal lead in the 67th minute as Collins played a neat one-two with Mooney and went clean through, but his shot was turned round the post by Connolly. In the 80th minute Nat Connolly almost struck his first goal for the club with a shot from the edge of the box that was goalbound, but defender Paolo Deritis slid in to deflect it over the bar. Finally in the 85th minute Collins played in an outswinging corner and Callum Neal came in with a thumping diving header to make it 3-1 and give Leverstock some breathing space over the final minutes.

Next up is a home game against Tring Athletic on Thursday night.

Crawley Green (0) 1 (Peterson 60)
1. Adi Connolly, 2. Taylor Keely (12. Trevor Nkata 79 mins), 3. Jimmy Doherty (15. Terry Offeh 64 mins), 4. Paolo Deritis, 5. Caden Barber, 6. Adedoyin Sanni (14. Josh Pearson 74 mins), 7. Nicolae Trif, 8. Kian Wilkes, 9. Jordan Standley (16. Franklin Ojumobi 55 mins), 10. Jake Cowley, 11. Harry Peterson.
Leverstock Green (2) 3 (Stefanoaica 38, Mooney 45+1, Neal 85)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks (15. Paul Marks 80 mins), 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith (16. Mikey Havill-Tierney 70 mins), 8. Ademide Baruwa (14. Curtis Dibley 83 mins), 9. Ethan Mooney (19. Scott McGleish 89 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Lewis Collins H/T)