Match Report

Leverstock Green have yet to start a league campaign with a win since their elevation to Step 4, and that run continued as they were beaten 2-1 at home by London Lions on Tuesday night in their opening game of 2026/27.

It was the visitors that made the stronger start to the game, with Jack Mattey proving a threat down the right and hitting a shot across goal and wide in the third minute. In the 21st minute a cross found Max Kyte in front of goal, but his header was saved by Leverstock keeper Ryan North.

A minute later Leverstock had their first chance of the game when a shot from Joe McCarthy was turned away by Lions keeper Sam Meisel. Five minutes later Ademide Baruwa had a good chance from a corner but headed wide. In the 30th minute Jack Allen just failed a reach a ball across goal from Vladyslav Karuchok.

The visitors took the lead in the 31st minute in an almighty goalmouth scramble following a corner. North made a good save from the initial chance, but Leverstock could not clear the ball from their six yard box and eventually Ben Bellman forced the ball home.

Leverstock went close to an equaliser on 41 minutes when Callum Neal got on the end of a cross from George Eldridge but his header was tipped over by Meisel. However, as the first half went into stoppage time Neal was in the box again, this time meeting a cross from McCarthy with a diving header that found the corner of the net for the equaliser.

But having levelled the scores, Leverstock conceded again further into stoppage time. Having seconds earlier been denied a good shout for what looked like a backpass handled by Maisel, they were caught on the break and Adam Burchell finished from close range to put the visitors back in front.

It could have been 3-1 in the opening minute of the second half, but Daniel Creese’s shot hit the post and rebounded across goal. For the remainder of the game it was Leverstock on top as they attacked down the slope, but were unable to create the chances their pressure merited. The best chance came in the 56th minute when a free kick from Carmicheal Uchenna found Allen, but he headed over the bar. As the game went into stoppage time Leverstock had a series of free kicks and corners, but the visitors defended well. Substitute Enoch Folorunsho had a half-chance for an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time but could not keep his shot under the bar.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Neal 45+1)
1. Ryan North, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Vladyslav Karuchok, 4. Dan Pett, 5. Kombe Kawimbe, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Joe McCarthy, 8. Carmicheal Uchenna, 9. Jack Allen 15. Enoch Folorunsho 85 mins), 10. Marcus Warren (14. Ashton Corder 76 mins), 11. George Eldridge (16. George Mitchell-Gears 63 mins). Sub not used: 12. Ryan Carruthers, 17. Aldo Petagine.
London Lions (2) 2 (Bellman 31, Burchell 45+3)
1. Sam Meisel, 2. Adam Lipman, 3. Ben Bellman, 4. Joshua Shack, 5. James Cohen, 6. Alex Lee, 7. Jack Mattey (14. Josh Gibbons), 8. Adam Burchell (16. Ethan Kessel), 15. Max Kyte (17. Tyler Smith), 10. Joe Leslie, 11. Daniel Creese (12. Solomon Jacobs).