Match Report

It was a heartbreaking last-gasp defeat for Leverstock Green on Tuesday night after they had fought their way back onto level terms against league leaders Didcot Town. The Green side can certainly take plenty of positives from a great performance on the night.

Leverstock’s speedy wingers created plenty of problems for the visitors, with Iker Noguera Leon having a run at goal in the 12th minute before hitting a shot wide. However, it was Didcot that opened the scoring a minute with Felix Robertson netting from close range from a cross that should have been dealt with.

Dan Pett had a good shooting chance in the 21st minute but sliced his effort wide, and two minutes before the break a cross from Joe McCarthy caused a scramble in the Didcot box in which Jack Allen had a chance to score, but opted to take an extra touch instead of shooting first time and the chance was lost.

Didcot could have taken a decisive lead in the opening minutes of the second half. A defensive slip left Owen James with a clear run at goal. Ryan North dived at the striker’s feet and appeared to get the ball, but James went down and the referee awarded a penalty and showed North a yellow card. James stepped up to take the kick but North saved it and also saved a follow-up effort from James.

It was a let-off for the Leverstock side, and they looked to make the most of it as they pushed forward throughout the half. Leon went close to an equaliser in the 73rd minute with a shot that was turned away by the keeper. Timi Bada came off the bench to bolster their attack, and with twelve minutes left a double substitution saw Leverstock switch to a back three.

The change appeared to have paid off when Leverstock got their deserved equaliser in the 84th minute. Leon went on another run before laying the ball off to Bada, who struck a superb low shot from just outside the box that beat the keeper’s outstretched arm into the corner of the net.

Leverstock might have even gone in front with Allen having another chance from close range but again delaying his shot too long, allowing it to be blocked by a defender. Leverstock would have certainly deserved the point, but it was not to be. In the third minute of stoppage time a free kick was conceded in a dangerous position, and Luke Carnell got on the end of the free kick with a header into the corner of the net out of North’s reach to win the game for the visitors.

Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Bada 84)
1. Ryan North, 2. Ademide Baruwa, 3. Vlad Karuchok (15. Ashton Corder 78 mins), 4. George Mitchell-Gears, 5. Kombe Kawimbe, 6. Ryan Carruthers (14. Nat Connolly 77 mins), 7. Joe McCarthy, 8. Dan Pett, 18. Jack Allen, 10. Marcus Warren (12. Timi Bada 72 mins), 11. Iker Noguera Leon (17. Aldo Petagine 85 mins). Sub not used: 16. Callum Donnelly.
Didcot Town (1) 2 (Robertson 13, Carnell 90+3)
1. Leigh Bedwell, 2. Lochlan Colquhoun, 3. Cameron McNeill, 4. Sam Bailey, 5. Luke Carnell, 6. Taylor Bedwell, 7. Connor Barrett (16. JP Nyuysemo 90+4 mins), 8. Felix Robertson, 9. Owen James (15. Kai Bartolo 76 mins), 10. Jenson Wright, 11. Reuben Harry (12. Leo Cole 66 mins). Subs not used: 14. Latham Hawkins, 17. Ben Dodd.