Match Report

Leverstock Green’s run in the Isuzu FA Trophy ended as they came out on the wrong side of a seven-goal thriller in Saturday’s Second Round Qualifying tie against Barton Rovers.

Leverstock got off to a great start as they took the lead in the 5th minute. Callum Neal delivered a cross from the right touchline and Guiseppe Delgaudio got up to head the ball past visiting keeper Tyler Josephs.

There could have been further goals later in the half. In the 18th minute Eyotuoyo Akinbulumo got on the end of a corner from Jamie Breen, but didn’t get enough on his header to divert it inside the post. Three minutes later another Breen corner reached Josh Dooley at the far post but his header went back across goal and wide. Alfie Bonfield saved shots from John Shamalo and Taylor Rhiney, and as the game went into first half stoppage time Leverstock still held the lead. However, a free kick was given away in a dangerous position, and Rhiney curled a superb shot over the wall and out of the reach of Bonfield to level the scores at the break.

Within a minute of the second half starting Leverstock were back in front. Luke Beckwith flicked the ball through to Delgaudio, and he sent a lob over Josephs for a 2-1 lead. The lead was almost increased in the 50th minute as a free kick from Beckwith could only be parried away by Josephs, but a defender got to the loose ball first to clear.

However, again Leverstock couldn’t hold onto their lead. In the 54th minute Ryan Neufville played a one-two which took him into the Leverstock box, where we was felled by a challenge from Akinbulumo. The referee awarded the penalty, and Rhiney netted the spot kick for his second of the game.

In the 61st minute Barton took the lead for the first time as Alfie Warman hit a volley from the edge of the box that went through a crowd of players past Bonfield. Five minutes later the scores were level again as Rio Beach got to the bye-line and put in a low cross which was finished from close range by Neal for a 3-3 scoreline.

But little over a minute later Barton were back in front again as Rhiney got in behind the Leverstock defence with a superb first time dipping shot over Bonfield to make it 4-3 to Barton and complete his hat-trick.

Leverstock pushed for another equaliser but were unable to find one, and Barton held on to progress to the next round.

Leverstock Green (1) 3 (Delgaudio 5, 46, Neal 66)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Josh Dooley, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo (16. Dan Weeks 90 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Cem Poyraz (15. Ethan Mooney 64 mins), 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio, 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Jamie Breen (14. Curtis Dibley 73 mins). Subs not used: 12. Ademide Baruwa, GK. Darren Bonfield.
Barton Rovers (1) 4 (Rhiney 45+2, 54 pen, 68, Warman 61)
1. Tyler Josephs, 2. Ryan Neufville, 3. Cam Hyde, 4. Ashton Grant (15. Saul Williams 60 mins), 5. Robbie Goodman, 6. Christian Swaby, 7. Lucas Kirkpatrick (14. Martel Powell 69 mins), 8. Alfie Warman, 9. John Shamalo (12. Kian Wilkes 69 mins), 10. Taylor Rhiney (16. Charlie Milton 83 mins), 11. Markel Cousins (17. Matt Moloney 60 mins).