Match Report

Leverstock Green played their first competitive match as a Step 4 club as they faced Hadley in the first round of the Herts Charity Cup, and it was a harsh lesson in what football at this level will be like. Hadley will be one of Leverstock’s opponents in the Southern League Division One Central, and they were two goals up before the Green side had even begun to find their feet.

Right from the kick-off Leverstock lost the ball and were instantly punished as Billy Hayes played Isaac Stones in to put Hadley into the lead with just 15 seconds on the clock. The lead was doubled in the 5th minute as Leverstock gave the ball away in the opposition half and were quickly hit by a counter-attack. Finlay Aldridge broke down the left and delivered a cross which found Stones all alone in front of goal to shoot home the second goal.

Leverstock were unlucky not to pull a goal back in the 11th minute as a hooked shot from Alie Bangura hit the post, and for a while it looked as though they were settling into the game. However, in the 36th minute another sloppy piece of play at the back was ruthlessly punished as the ball was played forward to Stones, who took on and beat a player on the edge of the box before shooting home to complete his hat-trick in impressive style.

Hadley made two changes at half time, with Stones leaving the game, but it was only a good save from Leverstock keeper Alex Desmond that prevented them adding a fourth early in the second half. However, the second half was an improvement from the Leverstock side, who seemed to have taken some lessons on board in moving the ball around quicker, and did not concede any further goals. Nat Connolly hit a good effort from distance over the bar, and Jayden Newman went close from a corner in the final minutes, but the Green side were unable to pull a goal back.

It’s still relatively early in pre-season, and Leverstock had a number of key players missing this evening, so there is no cause for alarm and there were positives to take from the second half display.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Alex Desmond, 2. Cem Poyraz (12. Jamie Breen 65 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Sam Doolan (17. Gary Connolly 49 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers (15. Callum Neal 49 mins), 7. Alie Bangura, 8. Ademide Baruwa, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (16. Jaden Newman 72 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Luke Beckwith (14. Lewis Collins 58 mins).
Hadley (3) 3 (Stones 1, 5, 36)
1. Charlie Taylor, 2. George Alfieri (12. Billy Baird 56 mins), 3. Caoilan McGettigan, 4. Stefan Powell, 5. Tommy Boxer (14. Panny Boxer H/T), 6. Peter Rosemin, 7. Billy Hayes (16. Herbie Townsend 56 mins), 8. Solomon Sambou, 9. Isaac Stones (18. Cameron Ferguson H/T), 10. Jordan Edwards, 11. Finley Aldridge (17. Zack Uribarri 50 mins).