Match Report

It was three more points for Leverstock Green FC on Tuesday night, but it was also another unnecessarily tense finish as visitors Aylesbury Vale Dynamos pulled back two late goals to take the game to the wire after Leverstock had apparently been cruising at 3-0 up.

After a quiet start to the game the visitors had the first chance in the 13th minute from a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box, but Alfie Anderson curled his effort just wide. Four minutes later Dynamos had another chance as Leverstock were caught on the break from their own corner. Abu Khan went on a powerful run through the Green defence and set up Sam Olawele, but his shot was cleared off the line.

Leverstock’s first effort on goal came in the 25th minute when Luke Beckwith hit an effort from the edge of the box which went just wide. Leverstock were forced into a chance in the 28th minute when Mikey Havill-Tierney went down injured and had to be replaced by Callum Neal. In the 34th minute the visitors were penalised for a foul by Nathan Brownsword near the corner flag. Brownsword’s protests earned him a sin-bin which reduced his side to ten men for the next ten minutes.

Leverstock Green FC made the most of their period of numerical advantage. Dan Pett delivered the free kick into the box, finding Callum Neal to head home his first goal for the club just six minutes after coming off the bench. It got even better for Leverstock in the 41st minute as Neal turned provider, sending over a cross from the right which found Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica with a header which went in off the post to put Leverstock 2-0 up.

Leverstock continued their good form into the second half. In the 51st minute Jayden Newman showed some good footwork on the edge of the penalty area before hitting a shot which deflected wide off a defender. The resulting corner was only headed away as far as the edge of the penalty area, where Beckwith met it with a low drive into the bottom corner of the net for a 3-0 Leverstock lead.

Leverstock Green FC were well on top at this point, and with Stefanoaica causing havoc on the wing further goals looked likely. However, a lapse of concentration at the back allowed the visitors back into the game in the 72nd minute. Jake Baldwin won the ball on the edge of the Leverstock box and hit a shot which Josh Bowler did well to turn away, but was helpless as Jonathan Pascal followed up to net the rebound.

Still Leverstock Green FC were looking the more likely side. In the 82nd minute Stefanoaica tried his luck from a free kick just outside the box but was denied by a save from keeper Charlie Jones. A minute later Stefanoaica hit a screamer from 30 yards which rattled the crossbar. The game was still in the balance, and even more so in the second minute of stoppage time when the Green defence was caught out again as Abu Khan ran through two challenges before hitting an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box to pull the score back to 3-2.

Four further minutes of stoppage time were played as Aylesbury pushed everyone forward, and there were a few moments of panic in the Leverstock box, but they just about held out for another crucial win which takes them within sight of the division’s top five. On Saturday they face one of the sides above them with a visit to Biggleswade United.

Leverstock Green FC (2) 3 (Neal 34, Stefanoaica 41, Beckwith 53)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney (15. Callum Neal 28 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Ryan Carruthers (14. Connor McGinty 87 mins), 6. Danny May, 7. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Jayden Newman (17. Rawn Seale 68 mins), 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Luke Beckwith (12. Lewis Collins 68 mins) (16. Joe Sadler 79 mins).
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos FC (0) 2 (Pascal 72, Khan 90+2)
1. Charlie Jones, 2. Dino Bonwick (15. Harvey Matthews 70 mins), 3. Mamadou Maiga, 4. Dale Brown, 5. Terry Griffiths, 6. Nathan Brownsword, 7. Alfie Anderson (17. Jake Baldwin 61 mins), 8. Fabian Garcia (14. Alfi Touceda 61 mins), 9. Sam Olawale, 10. Abu Khan, 11. Jonathan Pascal. Subs not used: 12. Princewill Madu, 16. James Young.