Match Report

After 30 seasons of competing in the FA Vase, Leverstock Green made their debut in the FA Trophy on Saturday, and their inaugural campaign will continue after a superb win over Isthmian League North Division leaders Bury Town in the First Round Qualifying. A goal in first half stoppage time was enough to win the game as Leverstock turned in a determined backs-to-the-wall performance during a second half in which they came under heavy pressure.

Guiseppe Delgaudio had Leverstock’s first shot of the game in the 8th minute, which was saved by Bury keeper Charlie Beckwith. Two minutes later Delgaudio got on the end of a great ball by Rio Beach but couldn’t quite get a shot away. Delgaudio continued to be the main threat, just failing to get a strong enough header to Ethan Mooney’s cross in the 26th minute, and seconds later having a shot from close range saved by Beckwith and then hitting the bar from the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Bury had shown some threat going forward, and as the first half went into stoppage time they went close as Ethan Mayhew just failed to connect with Thomas Thulborn’s cross at the far post. Seconds later at the other end, Beach hit a shot which Beckwith grabbed but could not hold onto. Delgaudio pounced to thump home the loose ball and put Leverstock into a 1-0 lead. Even then Bury might have levelled the game further into stoppage time as a shot from Thulborn went across goal and just wide.

The second half was all about Leverstock having to fend off a constant stream of attacks from the Bury side down the slope. Man of the match Eyituoyo Akinbulumo made a crucial intervention in the 48th minute to get his head to Thulborn’s cross and put it wide with players coming in behind him. His partner in central defence Gary Connolly also got an important boot in to clear another dangerous cross into the six-yard box. In the 74th minute Alfie Bonfield couldn’t hold onto a shot from Cemal Ramadan, but Ryan Carruthers was first to the loose ball to clear it to safety.

The visitors had a strong shout for handball during a goalmouth scramble late in the game, but the referee was unmoved. It was a long half for Leverstock but they held out successfully to claim another historic result and put their name into the hat for Monday’s Second Round Qualifying draw. As Leverstock’s first actual win in 90 minutes against a fellow Step Four side, it will also give them great encouragement in the search for their first Southern League win.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Delgaudio 45+1)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal (16. Cem Poyraz 61 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Gary Connolly, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney (12. Lewis Collins 73 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (14. Curtis Dibley 76 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Subs not used: 15. Josh Dooley, GK. Darren Bonfield.
Bury Town (0) 0
1. Charlie Beckwith, 2. Joe White, 3. Lewis O’Malley, 4. Theo Carter, 5. Joshua Curry, 6. Edward Upson (12. Ryan Horne H/T), 7. Maxwell Maughn, 8. Ethan Mayhew, 9. Cemal Ramadan (15. Reuben Truter 81 mins), 10. Thomas Thulborn (14. Oliver Canfer 73 mins), 11. Michael Davis. Subs not used: 16. Ryan Jolland, 17. Benjamin Mayhew.