Match Report

Leverstock Green earned another battling point as they grabbed a late equaliser in Saturday’s Southern League Division One Central game at home to Enfield. Fergus Moore’s side need to start putting some wins on the board soon, but the manner in which this game was saved and nearly won will be a confidence booster for a side that is still missing several key players through injury.

There was little in the way of chances for either side in the first half. In the 18th minute Enfield’s Robert Clark hit a low shot which Alfie Bonfield had to turn round the post. Leverstock went close in the 25th minute when a cross from Callum Neal was brought down by Jamie Breen to set up Guiseppe Delgaudio for a shot on the swivel which hit the bar.

There was a 12 minute delay in the first half after Enfield’s Luke Clark sustained a head injury in a collision with Delgaudio. There was some concern at first, but after treatment Clark was able to walk off the pitch under his own steam.

A half time change saw Ryan Carruthers replace the injured Ademide Baruwa. Three minutes into the second half Leverstock found themselves behind through an unfortunate goal. A long goal kick from visiting keeper Lamar Joseph-Johnson deflected off a Leverstock player straight into the path of Sami Bessadi, who was clean through on goal and took the ball around Bonfield before slotting into the empty net.

Leverstock struggled to make any headway for a while, but after some more substitutions they made a strong finish to the game. They went close in the 79th minute when a cross from Carruthers just eluded the head of Delgaudio. Then in the 84th minute a great crossfield pass from Rawn Seale found substitute Lewis Collins in space on the right side of the penalty area with just Joseph-Johnson to beat, and Collins found the perfect finish into the bottom corner of the net to level the scores at 1-1.

It could have been even better for Leverstock in the final minute of stoppage time as a cross from Seale found Luke Beckwith a couple of yards out, but Beckwith couldn’t get his header on target and the Green side had to settle for the draw.

Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Collins 84)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Callum Neal (16. Isaiah Hilaire 69 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Ademide Baruwa (14. Ryan Carruthers H/T), 7. Jamie Breen (12. Luke Beckwith 62 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio, 10. Nat Connolly (15. Lewis Collins 75 mins), 11. Rawn Seale. Sub not used: 17. Freddie Newing.
Enfield (0) 1 (Bessadi 48)
1. Lamar Joseph-Johnson, 2. Benjamin Wyss, 17. Myles John, 5. Matthew Hurley, 6. Joe Babbage (7. Joni Vukaj H/T), 8. Robert Clark (12. Adem Yilmaz 90+5 mins), 3. Luke Clark (9. Kieran Southgate 45+3 mins), 10. Sami Bessadi (4. Sam Coombes 75 mins), 14. Jack Taylor, 11. Callum Taylor, 20. Bradley McClenaghan). Sub not used: 13. George Edgeworth.