Match Report

Leverstock Green are celebrating promotion to Step 4 for the first time ever after a 3-0 win over FC Romania in Monday’s SSML Premier Division playoff final in front of a bumper crowd of 914.

Constant rain from mid-morning through the afternoon meant that playing conditions were very difficult. On a normal day the game would probably have been postponed or abandoned early on with surface water splashing up from the start, but the game went ahead and both sides did their best to cope with the conditions.

Leverstock had a chance in the 6th minute when a defender missed the ball to leave Rawn Seale through on goal, but his run was stopped when the ball got caught in the surface water, and his attempted layoff to Ethan Mooney didn’t get there. Three minutes later a flick-on from Seale put Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica through, but his first time shot was saved by keeper Elgi Fejzo.

The visitors threatened in the 15th minute when a shooting chance opened up for Zenon Styliandes, but his shot went across goal and wide. Two minutes later Dan Pett had an effort from 20 yards which went inches over the bar. In the 20th minute a cross from Stefanoaica just eluded Seale sliding in at the far post.

The game was goalless at the break, but Leverstock made a breakthrough early in the second half. A superb cross from Callum Neal found Pett to head home and put Leverstock into a 49th minute lead.

The Leverstock defence was once again sturdy and discliplined, allowing FC Romania little in the way of chances. Leverstock increased their lead in the 77th minute. A free kick from Pett was not cleared by the visitors’ defence, and the ball rolled out to the edge of the area where Neal met it with a low shot drilled through a crowd of players which beat Fejzo and made it 2-0.

Three minutes later it was 3-0. As a cross came in from the left, it looked as though skipper Dan Weeks was set to score, but his shot was blocked. The rebound fell for Seale, and his shot hit a defender but still found its way into the corner of the net to put Leverstock within touching distance of promotion.

There were no further goals, and the final whistle triggered scenes of celebration as Leverstock lifted the playoff trophy. It is a reward that is truly deserved for Fergus Moore and Scott McGleish’s side as they have been outstanding all season and pulled out two great performances in the playoffs to clinch a promotion that would have been considered unlikely at the start of the season.

Leverstock still have the chance for further glory this season with both the Gladwish Challenge Trophy and St Mary’s Cup finals to come.

Leverstock Green (0) 3 (Pett 49, Neal 77, Seale 80)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Callum Neal (16. Josh Dooley 90 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Gary Connolly, 6. Ryan Carruthers (12. Ademide Baruwa 82 mins), 7. Ethan Mooney (14. Luke Beckwith 85 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale (17. George Mitchell-Gears 88 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (15. Guiseppe Delgaudio 72 mins).
FC Romania (0) 0
1. Elgi Fejzo, 2. Zivonimir Lopes (15. Ioneu Ilies 83 mins), 3. Johan Becka, 4. Phil Lowen (18. Ridwan Hussein 77 mins), 5. German Petrov, 6. Jay Jay Goncalves, 7. Jesse Friend (17. Flavio Kyem 54 mins), 8. Tobi Coker (19. Luke Abraham 83 mins), 9. Tomas Mendes (16. Stefan Balev 69 mins), 10. Zenon Styliandes, 11. Malik Nosike.