Match Report

It was a must-win game for Leverstock Green against relegation rivals Northwood, and Callum Neal’s second half goal ensured that the three points were duly taken. The win moves Leverstock out of the Southern League Division One Central relegation zone on goal difference, with five games to play.

The whole Leverstock team put in a tremendous shift with a strong, disciplined performance against a dangerous Northwood side that had scored five goals in their previous game. There were some early chances for the Green side. In the 4th minute Jeffrey Sekyere won a header in the box to set up Luke Beckwith with a chance, but he shot into the side netting. Three minutes later Beckwith was in on goal again from an Ademide Baruwa pass, but visiting keeper Dan Hosier turned his shot wide. In the 10th minute Sekyere had a shooting chance from close range but it took a deflection off a defender and went just over the bar. In the 35th minute Callum Neal connected with a volley from the edge of the box that went across goal and wide.

The second half saw Northwood attacking down the slope, and in the 53rd minute Samuel Folarin had a run at goal but his shot was saved by Ryan North. Two minutes later came the crucial moment as Leverstock were awarded a free kick midway inside the Northwood half. Kyle Connolly floated in a perfect delivery which Neal met on the edge of the area with a thumping header that beat Hosier to open the scoring.

There were chances for Leverstock to extend their lead. In the 67th minute a long-range shot from Dan Pett was turned wide by Hosier. Three minutes later Rawn Seale hit the bar with a header from a corner. In the 73rd minute a quick break saw Pett feed the ball out wide to Seale, who ran on to put over a cross which found Sekyere with a header that went wide.

There was still only a single goal in it as the game went into stoppage time, which made for a very tense finish. There was a heart-stopping moment when Omar Rowe had a shooting chance from the edge of the box, but North pulled off a great save to keep it out, and eventually the referee blew for time and Leverstock had their three points.

Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Neal 55)
1. Ryan North, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Josh Dooley, 5. Gary Connolly, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Luke Beckwith (15. Ethan Mooney 87 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jeffrey Sekyere, 10. Kyle Connolly, 11. Rawn Seale. Subs not used: 12. Lewis Collins, 14. Nat Connolly, 16. Tomasz Siemienczuk, 17. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica.
Northwood (0) 0
1. Dan Hosier, 2. Emmanuel Folarin, 3. Jayden Ashbourne (17. Alex Cathline 81 mins), 4. Jordan Ajanlekoko, 5. Reece Yorke, 6. Ronnie Mfinda (14. Stefan Powell 70 mins), 7. Bradley Clayton, 8. Troy Perez-Duah, 9. Samuel Folarin, 10. Omar Rowe, 11. Rio Connell. Subs not used: 12. Jack Empson, 15. Jon-Jo Bates, 16. Denis Nortey.