Match Report

Leverstock Green were unable to follow up their impressive midweek win against Ware as they fell to a home defeat against Beaconsfield Town on Saturday.

They made a bright start to the game and took the lead in the 13th minute as Iker Noguera Leon scored his fourth goal in three games, hitting a shot on the run from the edge of the box which bounced in front of keeper Ezekiel Ifekoya and went into the net. They had chances to extend their lead. In the 20th minute Ifekoya couldn’t hold onto a free kick floated in by Marcus Warren, and the ball dropped at the feet of Timi Bada, but Ifekoya recovered to save Bada’s shot. In the 31st minute a shot from Joe McCarthy was saved by Ifekoya and hit the post, but fortunately for the keeper rebounded back into his hands.

Leverstock had been on top up to this point, but in the 35th minute the scores were levelled as Blaaze Lawrence pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Green box to shoot home the equaliser past Ryan North. There was another great chance for Leverstock in the 42nd minute as McCarthy was through on goal, but Ifekoya saved well to keep out McCarthy’s shot.

Having played well in the first half, Leverstock’s performance in the second half was somewhat disappointing. Beaconsfield looked like they had taken the lead in the 52nd minute as North spilled a routine shot from Freddie Ford and Mekhai Bessasa-Grant netted the loose ball, but the offside flag was up. Two minutes later Leverstock had a chance as a long ball allowed McCarthy to get the wrong side of the last defender, but instead of finishing himself McCarthy opted to square to Bada, and the ball didn’t get there.

Beaconsfield were looking the more dangerous side, and they were given the chance to go in front in the 71st minute when George Mitchell-Gears’ challenge brought down an attacker in the box, and the referee awarded the penalty. Lawrence netted the spot kick for his second goal of the game.

Leverstock tried to put pressure on the Beaconsfield goal over the closing minutes, but the visitors defended very well, always finding the vital block or header away. A cross from Dan Pett in the 75th minute went across the face of goal but Jack Allen couldn’t get his boot on it. By the end of the game Leverstock had two 16 year olds on the pitch, with Ashton Corder being joined by Lucas Hammer, another of the under-18 side to have stepped up to the first team. Deep into stoppage time a shot from Corder was blocked and the rebound came to Hammer, but he couldn’t keep his shot under the bar.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Leon 13)
1. Ryan North, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Vladyslav Karuchok, 4. George Mitchell-Gears, 5. Kombe Kawimbe, 6. Ryan Carruthers (12. Nat Connolly 81 mins), 7. Timi Bada (18. Jack Allen 63 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Joe McCarthy (14. Ashton Corder 68 mins), 10. Marcus Warren (16. Lucas Hammer 89 mins), 11. Iker Noguera Leon. Sub not used: 15. Callum Donnelly.
Beaconsfield Town (1) 2 (Lawrence 35, 71 pen)
1. Ezekiel Ifekoya, 2. Alex Peapell, 3. Mack Miskin, 4. Giulio Marroni, 5. Charlie Smith, 6. Dan Hill, 7. Blaaze Lawrence, 8. Corey Hart, 9. Joel Onu (12. Alfie Anderson 70 mins), 10. Freddie Ford, 11. Mekhai Bessasa-Grant (14. Mohamed Gamal 84 mins). Subs not used: 15. Uthman Hassan, 16. Mirko Jovanovic, 17. Taran Sohi.