Match Report

Leverstock Green were once again denied a first away win in the Southern League by a stoppage time equaliser. The three additional minutes had been played and the referee was about to blow for time when Hadley snatched an equaliser. It would have been a deserved win for Leverstock, who had come from behind to lead against the team second in the league at the start of play.

Leverstock started the game well and went close to a goal in the 7th minute when Josh Dooley hit the bar with a header from a corner. Three minutes later a cross from Isaiah Hilaire was met by Luke Beckwith at the near post but he couldn’t quite divert his shot on target. The game was evenly-fought for much of the half, but five minutes before the break the home side took the lead. After a shot from Billy Hayes was tipped onto the bar and over by Alfie Bonfield, the resulting corner caused a goalmouth scramble in which Isaac Stones forced the ball home. The goal stood despite protests from the Leverstock side that there had been a push in the buildup.

The second half was similarly competitive. In the 51st minute Rio Beach was released down the left on a run before crossing for Rawn Seale, whose shot bounced up off the ground and was tipped over the bar by a spectacular save from home keeper Charlie Taylor. Seale was unlucky again in the 62nd minute when his overhead shot went just wide.

Leverstock kept pushing and finally got their reward in the 72nd minute. Beach made another good run into the box before squaring across goal for Beckwith, who lashed home a fierce shot for the equaliser. It got even better for Leverstock four minutes later. Ademide Baruwa was near the angle of the penalty area when he hit a low shot along the ground which went through a crowd of players. Taylor was unsighted and dived too late to stop the ball going into the bottom corner of the net for a 2-1 Leverstock lead.

Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica had made his return from injury off the bench during the second half and had the chance to further extend the Leverstock lead ten minutes from time, running clear of the Hadley defence but putting his eventual shot just over the bar. Leverstock still held their lead as the game went into stoppage time, and they looked to have weathered a period of intense Hadley pressure as the referee looked set to blow for time with three minutes played, but the game went on and out of nowhere Stones blasted a shot from the edge of the penalty area that gave Bonfield no chance and rescued a point for his side.

Even then the referee played further time after the restart and Bonfield had to make a save just to preserve the Leverstock point, but the game eventually finished 2-2. Leverstock now have an 11-day break before their next game, which should hopefully allow some of the many players missing through injury today to get fit again.

Hadley (1) 2 (Stones 40, 90+4)
1. Charlie Taylor, 2. Callum Ismail (16. George Alfieri 79 mins), 3. Caoilan McGettigan, 4. Hedley Ogbebor, 5. Luke Massingham, 6. Hermes Gbio, 7. Finley Aldridge (17. Toby Goudl 59 mins), 8. Jordan Edwards (18. Cameron Ferguson H/T), 9. Isaac Stones, 10. Billy Hayes (14. Peter Rosemin 85 mins), 11. Luke Alfano. Sub not used: 12. Panny Boxer.
Leverstock Green (0) 2 (Beckwith 72, Baruwa 76)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Josh Dooley, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Lewis Collins (17. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica 66 mins), 8. Nat Connolly, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Luke Beckwith (15. Callum Neal 85 mins), 11. Isaiah Hilaire (12. Jamie Breen 79 mins). Subs not used: 14. Tyrone Kumi, 16. Cem Poyraz.