Match Report

Leverstock Green moved closer to safety with three more crucial points from Saturday’s Division One Central fixture against Flackwell Heath. The win takes them to 40 points, one more than last season’s final points total with six games remaining.

The visitors made the stronger start to the game, with striker Jack Shakespeare being denied twice early on, firstly by a save from Ashton Broome-Alexander in the 6th minute, and again by a goalline clearance from Olusegun Adedipe in the 13th minute.

However, it was Leverstock that took the lead in the 18th minute from their first real attack of the game. Nat Connolly had the ball in a threatening position 30 yards out and played it wide to Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, and when Stefanoaica beat his man and crossed from the bye-line, Connolly had continued his run into the six-yard box to meet the cross with a shot that slipped under the body of keeper Henry Upstell. It was only Connolly’s second goal for the club in 122 appearances.

Leverstock had their tails up now and should have had the game put away by half time. In the 28th minute a pass from Carmicheal Uchenna put Iker Noguera Leon through on goal, but Leon’s chip over Upstell went wide of the target. Within a minute a pass from Stefanoaica put Leon in again with an even better chance, and his low shot beat Upstell but again went just wide. In the 35th minute Jeffrey Sekyere went on a solo run into the box which took him clean through against Upstell, but again his shot went wide of the same post.

The lead was still a single goal as the second half started, but Flackwell had a chance to level in the 50th minute when a pass found Shakespeare with space to shoot, but Broome-Alexander pulled off a great save to keep the shot out with his right leg. For much of the second half Leverstock were pinned in their own half, and Flackwell went close again in the 74th minute when a header from Larry Kagwa went just wide.

A second goal was needed, and it finally arrived in the 88th minute. Substitutes Jack Allen and Joe McCarthy were both involved as the ball was cleared upfield. McCarthy and Marcus Warren both tried to carve out shooting chances on the edge of the box, but eventually the ball went to Sekyere, whose shot was parried by Upstell. Allen’s effort from the rebound was also saved, but at the second attempt Allen forced the ball home to ensure that Leverstock would be taking all the points.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Connolly 18, Allen 88)
1. Ashton Broome-Alexander, 2. Kombe Kawimbe, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Pett, 20. Olusegun Adedipe (15. George Mitchell-Gears 56 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Iker Noguera Leon (18. Jack Allen 78 mins), 8. Carmicheal Uchenna, 9. Jeffrey Sekyere (12. Callum Donnelly 89 mins), 10. Nat Connolly (16. Marcus Warren 70 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (14. Joe McCarthy 66 mins).
Flackwell Heath (0) 0
1. Henry Upstell, 2. Ryan Avery (16. Neilon Pascall 66 mins), 3. Lewis Patrick, 4.Harry Mepham, 5. Sean McGuinness, 6. Lewis Pegg (14. Matt Roberts 64 mins), 7. Jamie Ayres (17. Josh Sapwell 82 mins), 8. Ben Stallard, 9. Lindell Stewart (15. Larry Kagwa 59 mins), 10. Jack Shakespeare, 11. Eli Grant (12. Bruce Nsang 55 mins).