Match Report

Leverstock Green turned in another fantastic display of unbreakable spirit as they came through on penalties against Heybridge Swifts in Tuesday night’s FA Cup Preliminary Round replay to set up an away tie at Felixstowe and Walton United in the First Round Qualifying. As in the first game Leverstock created enough chances to have won the game in normal time and there can be little doubt that they deserved to win the tie over the two games.

Leverstock picked up from where they left off on Saturday as they pushed forward with purpose. They should have gone in front in the 11th minute when a shot from Callum Neal was parried by home keeper Calum Chafer. The rebound came out to Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica but he couldn’t get his header on target. Two minutes later a pass from Jamie Breen put Guiseppe Delgaudio through on goal, but his shot was blocked, as was a follow-up effort from Luke Beckwith.

In the 18th minute Leverstock found themselves behind against the run of play, and it was a somewhat fortuitous goal for Heybridge as an intended cross from Tony Robinson flew over the outstretched arm of Alfie Bonfield straight into the net.

A further chance came for Leverstock on 24 minutes as a lofted pass from Beckwith put Delgaudio through again, but his shot was wide. In the final minute of the half Delgaudio had another chance after the keeper came out of his area to block Stefanoaica. The rebound fell to Delgaudio with a distant shot at the empty net, but he didn’t get hold of it.

Leverstock continued to impress going forward in the second half. In the 49th minute Delgaudio got on the end of a cross from Josh Dooley but not with a strong enough touch to divert it on target. Stefanoaica shot over the bar from a good chance in the 58th minute. In the 73rd minute skipper Dan Weeks delivered a superb cross into the box that should have been perfect for substitute Rawn Seale, but he couldn’t get on the end of it.

Finally in the 75th minute Leverstock made the breakthrough. A long throw from Seale was headed away, but only to the edge of the box where substitute Lewis Collins met it with a superb volley that gave Chafer no chance and levelled the scores at 1-1.

Three minutes later there was a chance to go ahead. Stefanoaica’s run into the box was thwarted, but the ball broke to leave Seale with only Chafer to beat, but he slotted his shot inches wide of the target.

Leverstock should have been out of sight by the end of the game, but the 90 minutes ended with the scores still at 1-1. Heybridge had a great chance to take the lead early in extra time but were denied by a great block from Breen. Other than that, the remainder of extra time saw little goalmouth action as both sides tired, and the tie went to penalties.

Leverstock went first, with Dan Pett netting, while Ben Allen replied for Heybridge. Alie Bangura scored the Green’s second kick, and Bonfield pulled off a great save to keep out Danny Nesbitt’s kick. Collins made it 3-1 to Leverstock before Nick Brown pulled one back. Ademide Baruwa took Leverstock’s fourth kick and was denied by a save from Chafer, then Luca Albon levelled the scores at 3-3. Rio Beach put Leverstock back in front, and when Lewis Browne put the fifth Heybridge kick over the bar, it was all over and Leverstock had won 4-3 on penalties, a great reward for a superb performance in a difficult trip on a Tuesday night.

Heybridge Swifts (1) 1 (Robinson 18)
1. Callum Chafer, 20. Toby Robinson, 2. Jamie Bennett (16. Luca Albon 105 mins), 4. Alfie Cutbush (19. Nick Brown 69 mins), 5. Joseph Adewunmi, 6. Danny Nesbitt, 8. Billy Crook (18. Samuel Adetiba 100 mins), 9. Andrew Fennell (11. Emmanual Osei-Owusu 82 mins), 10. Jack Adlington-Pile, 12. Scott Sloots (14. Lewis Browne 69 mins), 17. Ben Allen. Subs not used: 13. Rohan Taheny-Clarke, 15. Tyrone Kumi.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Collins 75)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Jamie Breen, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Nat Connolly (14. Ademide Baruwa 70 mins), 7. Luke Beckwith (16. Lewis Collins 58 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (18. Rawn Seale 66 mins), 10. Rio Beach, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (12. Alie Bangura 90 mins). Subs not used: 15. Ryan Carruthers, 17. Ethan Mooney, GK. Darren Bonfield.

Leverstock Green won 4-3 on penalties.