Match Report

Leverstock Green FC drew for the fourth time in the last five matches against second-placed Milton Keynes Irish on Tuesday night. It was scheduled to be Leverstock’s home match, but due to the Pancake Lane pitch being unplayable at lunchtime, the game was switched to MK’s Manor Fields ground. It was another excellent performance by the Green side, who were only denied the win by some heroics from MK goalkeeper Tom Ladyman.

Leverstock had a good chance to take the lead in the 6th minute, as Rio Beach went on a mazy run before threading a pass to put Rawn Seale through on goal. However, Ladyman produced the first of his great saves to deflect Seale’s shot round the post. MK had the ball in the net in the 22nd minute but the offside flag had already been raised before the goal was scored. Leverstock went close again in the 28th minute as Paul Marks got on the end of a Dan Pett corner but couldn’t keep his header under the bar.

The scoring was opened in the 30th minute, with an element of controversy. Pett won the ball off an MK defender with a challenge that many of their contingent felt was a foul. The referee played on, and Pett played a pass through to Seale, who was denied by Ladyman. However, Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica followed up to curl the ball into the empty net to put Leverstock Green FC 1-0 up.

It should have been 2-0 in the 37th minute as Seale was in with another great shooting chance, but his low shot was somehow deflected over the bar by another great save from Ladyman. Instead the scores were levelled in the 41st minute. MK were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box, and Mason Spence’s shot left Josh Bowler standing as it flew into the net.

Luke Beckwith replaced the injured Stefanoaica at half time, and Beckwith also found himself frustrated by Ladyman. Clean through on goal in the 55th minute, Beckwith’s shot was kept out by the keeper’s boot. Two minutes later at the other end Ryan Smith had a good chance but shot wide.

It was Leverstock’s turn to have a free kick just outside the box in the 64th minute, and Pett produced a great effort, but again it was Ladyman who dived to his left to turn it round the post. In the 72nd minute the action was at the other end as Bowler produced a superb save to turn away a shot from Ty Ward.

The game finished with the scores still level at 1-1, and Leverstock Green FC have now dropped to 5th in the table below a resurgent Harpenden Town, and probably still require a couple of wins from their remaining four games to seal a play-off spot.

Leverstock Green FC (1) 1 (Stefanoaica 30)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Paul Marks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale (16. George Mitchell-Gears 90+1 mins), 10. Ademide Baruwa, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Luke Beckwith H/T). Subs not used: 14. Nat Connolly, 15. Curtis Dibley, 17. Mikey Havill-Tierney.
Milton Keynes Irish FC (1) 1 (Spence 41)
1. Tom Ladyman, 2. Clinton Zane, 3. Callum Hirst, 18. Nat Beecher, 5. Shahiem Ward, 11. Jack Whitehead, 7. Andre Olukanmi, 8. Ryan Smith (6. Nathan Smith 62 mins), 9. JJ Meadows, 10. Ty Ward, 20. Mason Spence. Subs not used: 12. Oliver Coleman, 14. Elijah West, 15. Junior Musvaburi.