Match Report

Leverstock Green are still looking for their first win in the Southern League, but they added another point to their tally after twice coming from behind against Northwood. The home side were without a point or a manager at the start of play, and Leverstock had the better of the game but once again were left to rue missed chances.

Northwood made a strong start to the game and put the Green side under some pressure, but it was Leverstock who had the game’s first chance. A pass from Rio Beach put Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica through on goal, but his shot was saved by home keeper Ryan Hopping. The loose ball was gathered by Ethan Mooney, who put it back across goal but Stefanoaica couldn’t apply the decisive touch to put it away. In the 21st minute Stefanoaica was through again, but opted to square to Mooney, who had a good shooting chance but skied it over the bar.

At the other end in the 27th minute Alfie Bonfield made a good save to keep out Godlove Oppong’s shot from a narrow angle. There was another chance for Leverstock in the 35th minute when Beach set up Guiseppe Delgaudio with a shooting chance but he hit it straight at Hopping, and the game went into half time still goalless.

Leverstock had another good chance in the 57th minute when Stefanoaica broke down the right and squared to find Delgaudio in front of goal, but his shot was blocked. This time Leverstock were made to pay for their missed chances as Northwood went straight down the other end, and a cross from the left found Gabi Ipanga-Mbambo to shoot home from close range.

Leverstock were only behind for four minutes. In the 62nd minute Ethan Mooney delivered a superb cross from near the right corner flag, and Delgaudio headed home to level the scores at 1-1. But six minutes later disaster struck again. Leverstock had a free kick in the opposition half, but it was easily headed away and Northwood broke quickly. Ipanga-Mbambo carried the ball from inside his own half, and despite several challenges was not stopped, running on to slot past Bonfield at put his side back in front at 2-1.

Leverstock kept pushing forward and were eventually rewarded with a second equaliser that was very similar to the first in the 83rd minute. This time it was Stefanoaica delivering the cross from the right for Delgaudio to head home again for a 2-2 scoreline.

The game should have been won two minutes later as Delgaudio shielded the ball in the opposition box before laying off to set up a chance for substitute Lewis Collins, who hit his shot well enough but Hopping managed to get something on the ball to divert it wide. Despite continuing to push forward over the closing minutes Leverstock couldn’t find another goal and had to settle for their second point of the season.

Northwood (0) 2 (Ipanga-Mbambo 58, 68)
1. Ryan Hopping, 2. Harry McKenna, 3. Jack Young, 4. Jack Smith, 5. Jeremy Stewart, 6. Jack Empson, 7. Prince Mbengui (16. Michael Kelly 90+2 mins), 8. Yahaya Kamara, 9. Ade Gbolahan, 10. Godlove Oppong (14. Archie James 76 mins), 11. Gabi Ipanga-Mbambo (12. Kojo Gyimah 90+2 mins). Subs not used: 15. Denislav Konstantinov, 17. Henry Atkinson.
Leverstock Green (0) 2 (Delgaudio 62, 83)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Cem Poyraz (16. Josh Dooley 78 mins), 3. Jamie Breen (14. Lewis Collins 59 mins), 4. Gary Connolly, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Rio Beach, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio, 10. Nat Connolly (12. Luke Beckwith 69 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Subs not used: 15. Curtis Dibley, 17. Dan Weeks.