Match Report

Leverstock Green had already clinched their place in the playoffs following Tuesday night’s results elsewhere, and they kept the pressure on Harpenden Town in the race for 3rd place and a home playoff semi-final with a 2-1 win at Baldock Town on Thursday night. It was hard work on a very wet night, but two first half goals proved enough for Fergus Moore’s side to take the points.

Leverstock made a slow start to the game, and the home side looked the brighter of the two sides in the early stages, winning a couple of corners. It was a contribution from Rio Beach in the 25th minute that sparked the Green side into left. Beach made a powerful run from his own half, pulling off a pirouette along the way, before being brought down just outside the box for a free kick in a dangerous position. Guiseppe Delgaudio took the kick, and his low shot took a deflection and beat keeper Kian McAdam into the corner of the net.

Luke Beckwith brought a good save out of McAdam in the 32nd minute, hitting a rasping shot which the keeper turned round the post. The second goal arrived in the 40th minute. A pass from Beckwith found Nat Connolly in space some distance from goal, and Connolly cut inside before hitting a shot which flew into the net via a deflection for his first ever goal for the club.

Leverstock made another slow start to the second half, with a cross from Callum Neal which was headed wide by Rawn Seale in the 63rd minute being their only threat of the early stages. Baldock kept on battling and pulled a goal back in the 70th minute from a short corner routine. The player who received the ball was not shut down quick enough, and his ball into the box was turned home by Max Ryan.

Leverstock had chances to extend their lead. In the 76th minute a free kick from Ryan Carruthers was parried away by McAdam. Curtis Dibley looked certain to score from the rebound, but could only pull the ball across goal where Rawn Seale also failed to hit the target. In the 83rd minute Seale chased a through ball and got there ahead of McAdam, directing a shot towards the empty net, but it hit the post and went wide.

In the end the single-goal lead was enough to win the game, but not enough to overtake Harpenden in third place. Leverstock trail by two goals, but have two games left to Harpenden’s one. Next up is a home game against Shefford Town & Campton on Saturday.

Baldock Town (0) 1 (Ryan 70)
1. Kian McAdam, 2. Harry Watson, 3. Jamie Breen, 4. Albert McGregor, 5. Fraser Findlay (12. Sonny Gardner 58 mins), 6. Newman Carney, 7. Flavia Drescanu (15. Max Ryan 60 mins), 8. Ethan Parker, 9. Harleigh Johnson-Standley, 10. Louie Carr (14. Abraham Ajiboye 67 mins), 11. Harley Rochester-Stein. Sub not used: 19. David Archer.
Leverstock Green (2) 2 (Delgaudio 25, Connolly 40)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Paul Marks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Ademide Baruwa (15. Dan Pett 78 mins), 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (16. Rawn Seale 60 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Ethan Mooney (12. Curtis Dibley 67 mins). Subs not used: 14. George Mitchell-Gears, 17. Dan Weeks.