Match Report

Leverstock Green registered their second straight league win with a very impressive performance against third-placed Biggleswade F.C., coming from behind to win the game.

It was a game which saw the 200th appearance for the club of skipper Dan Pett, and also the last appearance of Carmicheal Uchenna, who gave a man-of-the-match display in midfield ahead of signing a pro contact with Wealdstone this week.

After a quiet opening to the game, it was the visitors who had the game’s first chance as defensive hesitation allowed Matteo Perkins to run clean through on goal, but he was denied by a good save from Ryan North. However, three minutes later Perkins was threatening again, this time squaring for Bradley Bell to shoot home and put Biggleswade into a 1-0 lead.

Leverstock responded well to going behind and were soon back on level terms. Hesitation by keeper George Rose allowed Joe McCarthy to nip in and take the ball, and as McCarthy tried to get the ball from under his feet to put it into the empty net, he was brought down from behind. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and Iker Noguera Leon fired the spot kick into the top corner to make it 1-1 in the 27th minute.

Rose was somewhat lucky to stay on the field in the 38th minute as he came out of his area to challenge McCarthy, committing a foul that left both players requiring treatment. Despite McCarthy being clean through, the referee only showed a yellow card to the Biggleswade keeper. Leon took the resulting free kick and his effort went just over the bar. In the final minute of the half Leon delivered a cross to the far post which was headed wide by Uchenna.

The second half saw Leverstock well on top with Leon and McCarthy again causing lots of problems for the Biggleswade defence. The visitors rarely threatened, although North produced a great save to tip a header over the bar in the 66th minute.

In the 72nd minute McCarthy was again through on goal and again brought down just outside the box, this time by Lawrie Marsh, but again the referee only showed a yellow card, one of six picked up by the visitors. Again the resulting free kick was off target, this time from Uchenna.

However, four minutes later a through ball from Marcus Warren gave McCarthy another run at goal, and this time he stayed on his feet and hit an exquisite finish which flew over Rose into the top corner to put Leverstock into a deserved 2-1 lead.

The team kept its discipline and shape to see the game out, successfully defending a corner in stoppage time to add another three points to their total.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Leon 27 pen, McCarthy 76)
1. Ryan North, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Vladyslav Karuchok, 4. George Mitchell-Gears, 5. Kome Kawimbe, 6. Carmicheal Uchenna, 7. Ademide Baruwa, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Joe McCarthy, 10. Marcus Warren (16. Nat Connolly 82 mins), 11. Iker Noguera Leon. Subs not used: 12. Jack Allen, 14. Timi Bada, 15. Ryan Carruthers, 17. Ashton Corder.
Biggleswade FC (1) 1 (Bell 22)
1. George Rose, 2. Michael Simpson (14. Leo Jenkins H/T), 3. Harry Jones , 4. Lawrie Marsh, 5. Jack Empson (16. Adam Hunt 85 mins), 6. Conor Inskip (17. Twariq Yusuf 76 mins), 7. Ethan Kessel (12. William Ademiluyi H/T), 8. Rio Martucci, 9. Daniel Bond, 10. Bradley Bell, 11. Matteo Perkins (15. Jake Bunyan 77 mins).