Match Report

Leverstock Green FC progressed safely through to the Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 3-1 win over Baldock Town in Saturday’s Extra Preliminary Round tie. Baldock are familiar opposition from last season’s SSML Premier Division, and they caused the Green side a few problems in this tie, but Leverstock fought back from going behind to take the win.

Alfie Bonfield was back in the Leverstock goal after two seasons away, and his goal faced some early threat from a young Baldock side with a couple of speedy forwards. The first couple of attacks were thwarted, but in the 18th minute Josh Cross was allowed to run clean through to slot past Bonfield and put Baldock into a shock lead.

Leverstock Green FC were only behind for two minutes though. Luke Beckwith received a throw-in in the middle of the opposition half, and after pushing forward played a ball out to Callum Neal, whose shot from the edge of the box looked to have been cleared off the line by a defender, but the assistant referee flagged to indicate that the ball had crossed the line for the equaliser.

In the 25th minute Neal was causing problems in the Baldock half again, and laid a pass off to Rio Beach, who hit a tremendous low shot from the edge of the box into the corner of the net to put Leverstock into a 2-1 lead.

Leverstock Green FC still held their 2-1 lead at the end of a fairly even half, but early in the second half they pushed on. In the opening minute of the half Beckwith went on a mazy run into the box, but his shot was saved by former Leverstock keeper Tautvydas Poniskaitis. Three minutes later Beckwith had an even better chance when a pass from Ethan Mooney put him through on goal, but his shot was wildly over the bar. However, in the 57th minute Beckwith found the net in spectacular style, as his looping cross-cum-shot from outside the left edge of the penalty area flew over the outstretched arm of Poniskaitis for a 3-1 Leverstock lead.

Substitute Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica could have added a fourth in the 64 minute when he was clean through, but Poniskaitis did well to turn his shot wide. The keeper also kept out a late effort from Curtis Dibley with his legs as Leverstock were denied any further goals, but their lead did not come under threat.

Leverstock’s reward is a home tie against Isthmian League North side Heybridge Swifts, who are managed by West Ham United legend Julian Dicks, in two weeks time. The result is also a confidence booster going into their historic first ever Southern League match next Saturday at home to Welwyn Garden City.

Leverstock Green FC (2) 3 (Neal 20, Beach 25, Beckwith 57)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal (14. Josh Dooley 85 mins), 3. Jamie Breen (16. Dan Pett 73 mins), 4. Dan Weeks, 19. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Ethan Mooney (12. Lewis Collins 60 mins), 8. Rio Beach, 9. Jaden Newman (17. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica 53 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Luke Beckwith (15. Curtis Dibley 85 mins). Subs not used: 18. Sam Doolan, GK. Darren Bonfield.
Baldock Town FC (1) 1 (Cross 18)
1. Tautvydas Poniskaitis, 2. Vinny Clarke, 3. Cian Jelly (15. Fraser Findlay 64 mins), 4. Albert McGregor, 5. Sonny Gardner, 6. Harry Watson, 7. George Kingham, 8. Louie Carr (12. Ellis Coker 61 mins), 9. Josh Cross (17. Jack Young 57 mins), 10. Harry Dollimore (16. Aldo Petaigne 76 mins), 11. Remell Stirling (19. Riley Carr 67 mins). Subs not used: 14. Leon Coker, 21. Kian McAdam.