Match Report

With two wins within the last week under their belts, Leverstock Green went into Saturday’s visit to Welwyn Garden City with momentum on their side, but it proved to be a tough afternoon as the home side completed a league double over Leverstock with a comfortable win.

Fergus Moore is still missing a number of players through injury, and with both Rawn Seale and Guiseppe Delgaudio injured had no centre forward today. Right back Callum Neal was unavailable so new signing Isaiah Hilaire was drafted in at right back. Leverstock made a slow start to the game and were two goals down within ten minutes. In the 5th minute a cross from the left was not cleared and Lewis Jones came in at the far post to head home. Five minutes later another cross from the left came in and Lewis Taaffe got on the end of it to shoot home from close range.

A tactical reshuffle saw Hilaire moved out to left wing while Ethan Mooney went to right back, but Leverstock were still struggling to hold onto the ball for any length of time. Brad Wadkins should have added a third for Welwyn in the 24th minute but his shot hit the bar, and a minute later Layne Eadie ran through on goal but hit his shot wide. Leverstock won their first corner of the game in the 36th minute, and home keeper Joe Welch could only punch it up into the air. As the ball came down Mooney got his head to it, but it went over the bar.

Leverstock were somewhat fortunate to get to the break only two goals behind, but the second half proved to be no easier. Five minutes in they had a free kick in a dangerous position, but Ryan Carruthers’ shot was comfortably gathered by Welch. Welwyn went straight down the other end, and it was a familiar story as a cross from the left found Taaffe unmarked to shoot home their third goal.

Taaffe could have completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute as the referee awarded Welwyn a penalty for an incident in a scramble following a corner. However, Alfie Bonfield pulled off a great save to keep his spot kick out. The fourth goal did eventually arrive in the 72nd minute. A corner was headed away to the edge of the penalty area, where Matty Whichelow met it with a low shot through a crowd of players into the bottom corner of the net.

Late substitutions saw a first team debut for Shay Kelly, who has come up through the youth teams at Leverstock, and a debut for Lewis Croucher, who had only left Welwyn a few days earlier and was quickly snapped up by Leverstock.

Leverstock had some half-chances to pull a goal back in the remaining minutes, but this is a game they will have to quickly put behind them as they are back in action on Monday night with a trip to Bedford to face Biggleswade FC.

Welwyn Garden City (2) 4 (Jones 5, Taaffe 10, 50, Whichelow 72)
1. Joe Welch, 2. Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo, 3. Layne Eadie, 4. Benji Crilley (12. Harvey Steel 62 mins), 5. Jack Green, 6. Ryan Sellers (14. Matty Whichelow H/T), 7. Charlie McDonald, 8. Joe Bennett, 9. Brad Wadlkins, 10. Lewis Taaffe (17. Aiden Read 69 mins), 11. Lewis Jones. Sub not used: 16. Marc Weatherstone.
Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Isaiah Hilaire (12. Lewis Collins 55 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Gary Connolly, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Ryan Carruthers (14. Lewis Croucher 78 mins), 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Ademide Baruwa (17. Shay Kelly 80 mins), 9. Luke Beckwith, 10. Nat Connolly (16. Tyrone Kumi 80 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Sub not used: 15. Dan Pett.