Match Report

Leverstock Green’s bid to turn their promotion and cup double into a treble was thwarted by a comeback from Harpenden Town in the St Mary’s Cup Final on Friday night. Leverstock held a slender lead at the break and played some sparkling football at times, but their inability to take their chances left the door open for Harpenden, who turned the match round very quickly midway through the second half.

Leverstock took the lead in the 16th minute from the penalty spot. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica was brought down in the box by a challenge from Isaiah Hilaire, and Luke Beckwith netted the spot kick.

Harpenden keeper Connor Coulson made the first of several great saves in the 28th minute, keeping out a shot from Rawn Seale after a run at goal, and when Seale got the ball back and squared for Stefanoaica, Coulson got a boot in to clear the chance. Two minutes later Seale showed some nifty footwork before setting up a chance for Stefanoaica, but his shot was across goal and wide. In the 32nd minute Coulson pushed away a rasping shot from Beckwith, and in the 41st minute Rio Beach hit a shot just wide.

Leverstock were well on top early in the second half. In the 52nd minute Coulson tipped a shot from Beckwith over the bar. Three minutes later Ademide Baruwa had a run at goal but his shot was kept out by Coulson. Baruwa had another run at goal in the 63rd minute but his eventual shot was wide. Coulson pulled off another great save a minute later to tip over a shot from Stefanoaica.

In the 67th minute Leverstock paid the price for not taking their chances when Harpenden broke away, and after a series of passes around the box, Jake Anthony shot home the equaliser.

Two minutes later there could have been a second Harpenden goal on the break, but Leverstock keeper Liam Gauthier pulled off a double save to keep out a shot and an effort on the rebound. However in the 72nd minute a Harpenden corner wasn’t cleared and Anthony lashed home a volley to put his side in front.

The decisive moment came in the 86th minute. Leverstock came close to an equaliser when a deflected shot from Ryan Carruthers hit the post, however Harpenden broke straight away and Anthony slipped the ball past Gauthier to complete his hat-trick and clinch the match. Coulson pulled off more saves during stoppage time to snuff out any hopes Leverstock might have had of a late comeback, and Harpenden went on to lift the St Mary’s Cup, a small measure of revenge for Leverstock’s win against them in the playoff semi-finals.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Beckwith 16 pen)
1. Liam Gauthier, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney (17. Jayden Newman 87 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Gary Connolly, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Nat Connolly (12. Ryan Carruthers 74 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (14. Lewis Collins 78 mins). Subs not used: 15. George Mitchell-Gears, 16. Callum Neal.
Harpenden Town (0) 3 (Anthony 67, 72, 86)
1. Connor Coulson, 2. Jake Collins (17. Prince Asare 90 mins), 12. Isaiah Hilaire, 4. Archie Fitzgerald, 16. Dan Palmer, 6. Josh Rodrigues, 7. Reece Crowter (14. Andrew Simmons 63 mins), 5. Archie Locke, 9. Jake Anthony, 10. Harry Andic (8. Chikosi Basden 56 mins), 11. Hadley Gleeson (15. Josh Kassaye 60 mins). Sub not used: 3. Lewis Williams.