Match Report

It was another frustrating day for Leverstock Green, who turned in an excellent performance against Isthmian North side Heybridge Swifts, but couldn’t put away the chances they created. A defensive lapse in the second half allowed the visitors to net an equaliser which means that Leverstock have to make the awkward journey to the Essex coast on Tuesday night for a replay of this Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie.

It started well for Leverstock, who put away the first real chance they created in the 16th minute. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica’s put Guiseppe Delgaudio clean through, and Delgaudio ran on to take the ball past keeper Callum Chafer before slotting into the empty net for a 1-0 lead.

In the 22nd minute Stefanoaica played a one-two with Callum Neal before running on to hit a shot from a narrow angle that was cleared off the line, with Leverstock having a very strong shout for a handball, but the referee waved away any protests. Heybridge offered little threat in the first half, with their best effort being a shot from Alfie Cutbush that went just over the angle of post and bar in the 32nd minute.

The second half saw Leverstock continue to play well and create chances. A pass from Neal in the 62nd minute put Stefanoaica in behind the visitors’ defence, but his eventual shot was straight at Chafer. Two minutes later an excellent cross from Stefanoaica found substitute Rawn Seale in space at the far post but Seale’s header went over the bar.

Leverstock were denied again in the 68th minute when a header from Josh Dooley was cleared off the line by Joseph Adewunmi and again four minutes later. A flick from Seale put Stefanoaica away down the right, and when Stefanoaica’s cross came over Seale was there to meet it but his shot was kept out by a great save from Chafer.

Despite the string of chances, Leverstock’s lead was still only a single goal, and in the 75th minute they were punished for a mistake at the back. Alfie Bonfield did very well to keep out a point-blank shot from Andrew Fennell, but could do nothing as Ben Allen netted the rebound for the Heybridge equaliser.

Just before the equaliser, summer signing Alie Bangura came off the bench for his Leverstock debut, and he was quickly in the action. On 81 minutes a pass from Seale put Bangura away down the left to make a dangerous run into the box, but his ball across the face of goal was just behind Lewis Collins. There was a golden opportunity to win the game in the 90th minute as Collins broke clear and set up a clear shooting chance for Dan Pett on the edge of the box, but Pett’s shot went wildly over the bar. A minute into stoppage time there was an equally clear opportunity for Heybridge to win the game as a cross found Fennell at the far post with a free header, but it went wide.

Both sides will go into the hat for Monday’s First Round Qualifying draw, and they will meet again at Scraley Road on Tuesday night.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Delgaudio 16)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Jamie Breen, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Nat Connolly (14. Ryan Carruthers 83 mins), 7. Luke Beckwith (16. Lewis Collins 67 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (18. Rawn Seale 59 mins), 10. Rio Beach, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Alie Bangura 74 mins). Subs not used: 16. Ethan Mooney, 17. Jaden Newman, GK. Darren Bonfield.
Heybridge Swifts (0) 1 (Allen 75)
1. Callum Chafer, 2. Jamie Bennett (9. Andrew Fennell 69 mins), 19. Chris Gregan, 4. Alfie Cutbush, 5. Joseph Adewunmi, 6. Danny Nesbitt, 10. Jack Adlington-Pile, 11. Emmanuel Osei-Owusu (12. Lester Ward 63 mins), 16. Luca Albon (8. Nicholas Brown H/T), 17. Ben Allen, 18. Samuel Adetiba (15. Scott Sloots H/T). Subs not used: 13. Rohan Taheny-Clarke, 14. Lewis Browne, 20. Toby Robinson.