It’s now five games without a win for Leverstock Green, and they were denied even a point from Saturday’s trip to Oxhey Jets by the woodwork in the last second of the game, also missing a penalty along the way.

Oxhey had the game’s first near-miss in the 8th minute, with Liam Jahn having to turn a shot from former Green striker Chris Blunden round the post. Five minutes later Leverstock had their first chance when Danilson Vicente and Jonathan Lacey combined to put Curtis Donaldson through on goal, but his shot from a narrow angle went across goal and just wide of the far post.

Oxhey took the lead in the 18th minute with a goal that had an element of fortune about it as a shot from outside the box was blocked by a Green defender, but straight into the path of Patro Marius Cosmin, who had the goal at his mercy and shot home.

Leverstock had a great chance to level the scores four minutes later. A kick from Jahn was flicked on to Ross Adams, who ran into the box but was pushed over from behind by Bradley Thompson. The referee awarded the penalty, but Lacey’s spot kick was well saved by home keeper Rob Partington.

Oxhey went close again on 30 minutes, with another former Green striker John Smith curling a free kick just over the bar. A minute later at the other end a good ball from Luke Preedy found Donaldson, but his shot was saved by Partington. There was little to choose between the sides as half-time approached, but crucially in the last seconds of the half the home side put together a great move, ending with Andrew Ampah playing a one-two before shooting past Jahn for a 2-0 Oxhey lead at the break.

Jets were reduced to ten men just after the hour mark when Cosmin was shown a yellow card for dissent having already been booked, although given that Leverstock had twice in recent weeks lost to sides with ten men for half the game, this didn’t give the Green followers great cause for optimism.

However, on 70 minutes they were back in the game. Lacey chased a ball down towards the corner flag and delivered a great cross which found Donaldson, who brought it down and composed himself before firing past Partington to reduce the arrears to 2-1.

Oxhey twice went close to sealing the points, with Simeon Armstrong hitting the bar on 82 minutes, and Smith hitting the post four minutes later, but Leverstock had the chance to save the game in the 89th minute when Lacey was through, but took a little to long to get his shot away, allowing a defender to block it.

Jahn came up for a couple of corners during stoppage time, but couldn’t force an equaliser. In the third minute of stoppage time, with everyone up in the box, Donaldson floated in a free kick from distance. Partington failed to gather the ball, and Shane Wood got a touch on it, but agonisingly it hit the post and went wide. It proved to be the last touch of the game as the referee blew for full time.

Leverstock have seven games left to try to secure a top-half finish, with the next one being at home to Stotfold on Tuesday night, kick-off 7.30 pm.