League: Gladwish Challenge Trophy QF

(A) Codicote

Leverstock Green reached the semi-finals of the Gladwish Challenge Trophy with a 4-3 win on penalties over Division Two side Codicote in Thursday night’s quarter-final tie. Goalkeeper Josh Bowler was Leverstock’s hero with two penalty saves. Codicote had beaten two Premier Division sides on their way to this stage of the competition, including leaders Real Bedford. Both sides were playing their third game in five days, and both line-ups were much changed from those that had played on Tuesday night.

It was a game of few chances, particularly in the first half. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica had the game’s first effort on goal in the 15th minute, shooting over the bar. Leverstock had most of the possession, but neither keeper was seriously troubled during the half.

Leverstock hit the woodwork in the opening minute of the second half, with a cross that bounced on top of the crossbar, but again there were few clear chances. Guiseppe Delgaudio was in with a shooting chance in the 69th minute, but he was challenged as he hit his shot, which was saved by keeper Cameron Groom, and the referee waved away appeals for a penalty. Two minutes later Stefanoaica got on the end of a long kick from Bowler and headed for goal, but his shot was saved by Groom. Stefanoaica had an even better chance in the 83rd minute as he made a great run into the box, but with only Groom to beat he spooned his shot over the bar. The home side had a chance in the 86th minute when Billy Small was put through on goal, but his shot was wide of the target.

With no goals at the final whistle, the game went to penalties. Dan Pett netted Leverstock’s first kick, and Codicote’s first kick by Evans Peprah was saved by Bowler. Delgaudio scored Leverstock’s second penalty, and Liam Tring netted for Codicote. Ethan Mooney’s kick was saved by Groom, and Tom O’Mara hit his penalty in off the underside of the bar to level the shoot-out at 2-2. Ademide Baruwa scored for Leverstock before Logan Burton levelled for Codicote with another effort in off the woodwork. Stefanoaica emphatically scored Leverstock’s fifth kick, and when Bowler saved from Christos Pedrithes it was all over with Leverstock winning the shoot-out 4-3.

Leverstock will be at home to Potton United in the semi-finals after Potton defeated Tring Athletic on penalties in the night’s other tie.

Codicote (0) 0
1. Cameron Groom, 2. Evans Peprah, 3. Tommy Clarke, 8. Tom O’Mara, 5. Grant Macaree, 6. Liam Tring, 7. Christos Pedrithes, 4. Michael Brako (17. Logan Burton 57 mins), 9. Brodie Carrington (15. Jarred Isles 57 mins), 10. Darius Fletcher (16. Billy Small 67 mins), 11. Lewis Kidd (12. Sam Willett 73 mins). Sub not used: 14. Jordan Kinoshi.
Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Mikey Havill-Tierney, 3. Brad Robinson (17. Dan Pett 71 mins), 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Thomas Payne (12. Ryan Carruthers 77 mins), 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Ademide Baruwa, 9. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, 10. Nat Connolly (14. Rio Beach 59 mins), 11. Ashraf Musambuko (15. Guiseppe Delgaudio 54 mins). Sub not used: 16. Callum Neal.
Leverstock Green win 4-3 on penalties

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(A) Hadley

Leverstock Green’s run in the Gladwish Challenge Trophy ended at the quarter-final stage as they were beaten in a penalty shoot out by Hadley after conceding an equaliser in stoppage time. It was a great second half display by the Green side as they came back from a goal down at half time to lead 2-1, but couldn’t hold on for a deserved win.

With regular keeper Alfie Bonfield rested due to an injury, under-18 keeper Oscar Frost came in for his second first team appearance of the season, and turned in an excellent display. In the 5th minute Frost pulled off a good save to keep out a header from Aaron Scott. Leverstock had a chance from a free kick just outside the box in the 15th minute, but Kian Wilkes’ effort went over the bar. Seven minutes later a cross from Rio Beach found Sean Walsh, who took the ball down well, but didn’t get hold of his shot properly.

In the 26th minute Hadley had an effort from Jordan Edwards cleared off the line, and three minutes later Sam Edwards hit a free kick just wide. Hadley went in front in the 32nd minute when Solomon Ofori broke clear and ran on to slot the ball past Frost. Ofori was close to a second on 37 minutes but his shot hit the bar.

Hadley went into the break leading 1-0 but Leverstock produced a great response in the second half. On 55 minutes a shot from Dan Pett was cleared off the line. Two minutes later Beach floated a free kick into the six yard box and Rawn Seale connected with a powerful header to level the scores at 1-1.

In the 69th minute a flick from Walsh gave Seale the chance to run into the box, where he was brought down by a challenge from Scott. Despite the protests of the Hadley players, the referee awarded the penalty, and Ethan Mooney netted his second spot kick in successive games to put Leverstock in front at 2-1.

Leverstock had a great chance to stretch their lead in the 78th minute when a neat pass from Mooney put Seale through on goal, but his shot went just over the bar.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time Leverstock were still in the lead, but a Hadley cross from the left caused problems inside the Green box, and substitute Peter Rosemin smashed home a shot to level the scores at 2-2. Even then Leverstock could have won the game further into stoppage time, but a header from WIlkes was saved.

With the scores level at 2-2 at full time, the game went into a penalty shoot out, and it didn’t get off to a great start for Leverstock with Pett’s kick being saved, while Sam Edwards scored Hadley’s first kick. Mooney levelled the scores at 1-1, and then Frost produced a great save to keep out Billy Baird’s second kick for Hadley. However, Leverstock’s third kick, from Rio Beach, struck the underside of the bar and bounced away from goal, allowing Hadley to go back in front through Billy Hayes. Wilkes and Nagheeb Ibrahim were successful with Leverstock’s remaining kicks, but Rosemin and Ed Davis were also on target for Hadley as they won the shootout 4-3.

Hadley (1) 2 (Ofori 32, Rosemin 90+1)
Team: 1. Luke Ward, 2. Billy Baird, 4. Aaron Scott (18. Ed Davis 71 mins), 5. Tom Milton, 6. Dylan Ebengo, 7. Solomon Ofori, 8. Cameron Ferguson (16. Noah Salama 78 mins), 9. Jordan Edwards (14. Peter Rosemin 71 mins), 10. Sam Edwards, 11. Zack Uribarri, 17. Billy Hayes. Subs not used: 13. Davis Boeteng, 15. Stephen O’Hara.
Leverstock Green (0) 2 (Seale 57, Mooney 69 pen)
Team: 1. Oscar Frost, 2. Ollie Cox, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Scott McGleish, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Sean Walsh (15. Elgeniy Daalberg 78 mins), 11. Nagheeb Ibrahim. Subs not used: 12. Jack Allen, 14. Ryan Carruthers, 16. Adam Page, 17. Alfie Bonfield.

Hadley win 4-3 on penalties.

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(H) Enfield Borough

On a very wet night at Pancake Lane, Leverstock Green reached the semi-finals of the SSML Challenge Trophy for the first time in 13 years. They overcame a rocky start to the match and eventually took control of the quarter-final against Division Two side Enfield Borough.

Once again Scott Dash’s options were limited, with three players back in the side that were missing on Saturday, but without four players who were cup-tied having played in previous rounds for Colney Heath. The visitors made an impressive start to the match, with the pace of forward Olakunle Akinwande looking particularly threatening.  Akinwande had already had one penalty shout turned down before going down under challenge from Jack Watts in the 5th minute. This time the referee did point to the penalty spot, and Akinwande stepped up to take the kick himself, but Liam Jahn pulled off a brilliant one-handed save to keep the ball out.

Jahn was brought into action again in the 10th minute, diving to pull off a great save from Alfie Hatch, then recovering to save the follow-up effort from Akinwande. However, in the 15th minute Leverstock were caught out by a quick break again, and Henderson Browne had chances to shoot from the edge of the box, but eventually laid the ball off for Akinwande to slot the ball home and give Enfield a lead that they certainly deserved at that stage.

Immediately after the goal Leverstock were forced into a change, with Watts succumbing again to the illness that had kept him out on Saturday. Oliseh Okwudi came on to play up front, and Lewis Bowers moved into the back four. Leverstock needed a break to get them going, and they got it in the 19th minute. Jonathan Lacey curled a corner into the near post, and David Lawrence got up to head home the equaliser.

On 25 minutes Casey Linsell had a go from a free kick 20 yards out, but the keeper gathered it comfortably. Two minutes later a pass from Ross Adams put Lacey through but he was denied by a great tackle by a defender. A minute later a cross from Adams found Linsell at the far post but his header was deflected wide. From the resulting corner, though, Lacey played it into the near post again, and this time Kendall Allen got on the end of the cross with a looping header that dropped in at the far post to put Leverstock 2-1 up.

By this time the Green defence had become more adept at handling the lively Enfield forward line, with Bowers giving another excellent display at the back. This continued through the second half, with Leverstock now looking the more likely side to score. A superb pass from George Biggadike put Lacey through on goal on 55 minutes, but the keeper did well to come off his line and save. The third goal eventually arrived on 73 minutes, with Adams involved in the build-up as Okwudi produced a cool finish to slot the ball past the keeper.

In the last minute a great pass from Allen put Lacey through on goal again, but his run was ended by a foul inside the box. Lacey got up to take the penalty himself, adding a fourth goal which may have been a little harsh on an Enfield side that continued to look capable throughout the second half.

As the final whistle went Leverstock became the first side to claim their place in the semi-finals, where they will face an away tie at either Hadley, Edgware Town or London Colney.

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