Leverstock Green’s under-18s got their competitive season off to a fantastic start as they twice came from behind to beat neighbours Berkhamsted in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Youth Cup.

There were some early chances for the Green side. In the 4th minute a pass from Charlie Hobbs set up a great chance for Ed Thackeray, but his shot was saved by the leg of home keeper James Hall. Three minutes later Kai Sullivan had a clear shot from the edge of the box but it went inches over the bar. On 12 minutes Callum Moore had at attempt at goal but it went wide.

It looked as though those missed chances could prove costly when Berko took the lead on the break in the 15th minute. Alfie Roffey intercepted a crossfield pass and ran towards goal before squaring for Godfrey Opoku to shoot home the opening goal.

Opoku went close with another shot shortly afterwards, but for the remainder of the half the game went a little scrappy and niggly, with a yellow card being shown to one player from each side. A minute before the break Leverstock got back into the game through a somewhat fortuitous goal. From a free kick over 40 yards from goal, Charlie Hobbs floated the ball into the box. It should have been an easy take for keeper Hall, but the ball went through his hands and straight into the net to level the scores at 1-1.

However, there was yet more to come before half time, as in the second minute of stoppage time Berko went back in front through former Green player Nana Yeboah, who slotted home a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

A change at half time saw Archie Roberts replace Kai Sullivan, and ten minutes into the second half it was Roberts who brought Leverstock back level again as Hall again failed to cover himself in glory from a free kick. The kick was 30 yards out and to the left of the penalty area. Roberts floated his shot towards the top corner, and although Hall got a hand to it, he couldn’t keep it from going into the net.

Shortly afterwards there was a lengthy stoppage for treatment to Berko’s Jake McGregor, who eventually had to be stretchered off. Once the game resumed, Leverstock went close to going in front from a goalmouth scramble but neither Roberts nor Bilal Mohammed could force the ball home.

On 69 minutes, however, Leverstock found the net again from another free kick. This time the kick was near the corner flag, and Mohammed floated the ball into the six yard box perfectly for Dan Payne to get on the end of it with a header to put his side in front for the first time in the game.

There was furious pressure from the Berko side over the closing minutes and more than ten minutes of stoppage time, but the Green defence held their composure to hold on for an impressive win. Their reward is a home tie against Langley F.C. in the next round on Thursday 1st September.

Berkhamsted (2) 2 (Opoku 15, Yeboah 45+2)
1. James Hall, 2. Alfie Gaffney (13. Alfie Scozzafava 85 mins), 3. Geraint Yates, 4. Sam Pritchett, 5. Joel Berton, 6. Jake Fowler, 7. Juud Farrant (14. Edwards Scott 53 mins), 8. Jake McGregor (17. Harley Latchford 66 mins), 9. Godfrey Opoku, 10. Nana Yeboah, 11. Alfie Roffey.
Leverstock Green (1) 3 (Hobbs 44, Roberts 55, Payne 69)
1. Liam Fortune, 2. Billy Hoar, 3. Bilal Mohammed, 4. Charlie Hobbs, 5. Finn McLean (14. Reece Marchant 75 mins), 6. Ellis Webb, 7. Kai Sullivan (12. Archie Roberts H/T), 8. Dan Payne, 9. Ed Thackeray, 10. Callum Moore, 11. Tom Rutherford (16. Jack Nicoll 53 mins). Subs not used: 15. Archie Wood, 17. Lenny Hopwood, 18. Callum Maloney.