McMullen Park

Real Bedford
McMullen Park
Meadow Lane
MK44 3LW

(A) Real Bedford

Leverstock Green put up a spirited display against league leaders Real Bedford, but eventually fell to a 3-1 defeat. Fergus Moore’s side is still plagued by injuries, with Nat Connolly having joined the injured list at the end of Tuesday’s game against Hertford. Mayar Hajousman was drafted into the side on a dual registration with Colney Heath, and Jose Costa stepped up from the reserves to a place on the bench, while Luke Beckwith returned to the bench after a long injury lay-off.

The first half saw very little in the way of notable action, with Leverstock’s disciplined shape keeping the prolific Real Bedford forward line in check, while also getting little change out of the home defence. However, in the 32nd minute a neat passing move put Joey Evans clean through to score the goal for Real Bedford which separated the sides at half time.

The second half was similarly tight, but on the hour mark Leverstock finally made a breakthrough. After a Kyle Connolly corner had been headed away, the ball went back to Connolly, and this time his cross was met by Ryan Carruthers with a glancing header that levelled the scores at 1-1.

However, the scores were only level for three minutes, as Isaac Galliford was allowed too much space in the Leverstock box to turn and lash home a shot to put Real Bedford back in front at 2-1.

There were further injury problems for Leverstock in the 75th minute as keeper Reuben Rabstein came out of his area to make a challenge. Rabstein was injured in the challenge and received a yellow card. Despite being in obvious discomfort Rabstein completed the game, and indeed pulled off a superb save in the 82nd minute to prevent a third goal.

Leverstock were still in the game until the 85th minute, when they were swiftly punished for giving the ball away on the halfway line, as Real Bedford broke quickly and Josh Setchell shot home to make it 3-1 to the home side and seal the points.

Fortunately for Leverstock, all the other teams in the bottom five were beaten as well, so they haven’t lost any ground, but they still need to start picking up points very soon. On Tuesday night they travel to Kings Langley for a local derby, with the injured Rabstein unlikely to feature.

Real Bedford (1) 3 (Evans 32, Galliford 63, Setchell 85)
1. Tyler McGregor, 2. Drew Richardson, 4. Jack Morrell, 5. Brett Longden, 6. Lee Watkins, 7. Josh Setchell (16. Harrison Knight 90+5 mins), 8. Callum Nicolson, 9. Joey Evans (12. Tom Hitchcock 90+2 mins), 10. Ben Stevens, 11. Isaac Galliford (3. Anthony Agemoh-Davies 66 mins), 17. Shaheim Ward. Sub not used: 18. Malachi Soile.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Carruthers 60)
1. Reuben Rabstein, 2. Ademide Baruwa, 3. Kyle Connolly, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Gary Connolly (16. Oliwier Fusiek 87 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers (17. Lucas Georgiou 90+2 mins), 7. Lewis Collins (15. Keanu Fleming 81 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Marcus Warren (14. Jose Costa 87 mins), 11. Mayar Hajousman (12. Luke Beckwith 71 mins).

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(A) Real Bedford

Leverstock Green’s unbeaten run of nine league and cup games was ended by league leaders Real Bedford at McMullen Park on Saturday. The Leverstock Green FC side put up another good performance against a team they had beaten earlier in the season, but two second half goals proved the difference in a game that Leverstock finished with ten men.

With Josh Bowler having been recalled by Berkhamsted, Leverstock had to find a new goalkeeper, and making his debut today was Liam Gauthier, previously with St Albans City and Barton Rovers.

There was a moment of controversy in the second minute of the game as Luke Beckwith was going for a loose ball, but was taken out by a challenge from the Bedford goalkeeper Tyler McGregor. There were appeals for a penalty but the referee gave nothing. In the 12th minute Nat Connolly played a promising ball forward for Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, but McGregor came out of his area and headed the ball away. Four minutes later Leverstock Green FC almost went in front. A pass from Dan Pett towards Stefanoaica was cut out by a defender, whose touch knocked the ball past McGregor and only inches wide of his own goal.

Gauthier was first brought into action in the 25th minute, saving with his legs in a one-on-one situation. The home side also flashed a couple of shots just over the bar as they started to put the pressure on. Leverstock had a good chance in the 40th minute as a pass from Rawn Seale found Stefanoaica, but his shot from a narrow angle was well-saved by McGregor. Just before half time Gauthier made another good save with his legs to ensure that the game went into the break still goalless.

The second half continued to be evenly-contested in the early stages, but the home side took the lead on the hour with a very quick counter-attack. Joey Evans’ pass put Josh Setchell through to slot the ball past Gauthier and open the scoring.

Leverstock Green FC had another shout for a penalty in the 67th minute, but instead of awarding the spot-kick, the referee showed Stefanoaica a yellow card for simulation. A second goal for the home side in the 74th minute proved decisive. A neat passing move put Evans in to score and double Bedford’s lead.

Gauthier produced another great save in the 76th minute to tip a shot over the bar, but a minute later Leverstock’s hopes took a further blow as they were reduced to ten men. A rash challenge from Stefanoaica brought a second yellow card and an accompanying red card.

There could have been a third goal for Bedford in the 89th minute from a free kick just outside the box, but the shot came back off the post. They hit the woodwork again stoppage time, but 2-0 turned out to be the final score.

Real Bedford FC (0) 2 (Setchell 60, Evans 74)
1. Tyler McGregor, 2. Eddie Corbit, 3. Eniola Agemon-Davies, 4. Tom Wood, 5. Drew Richardson, 6. Charlie Smith, 7. Josh Setchell (14. Tom Hitchcock 90+1 mins), 8. Luke Knight (16. Claston Gordon 81 mins), 9. Joe Evans, 10. Ben Stevens, 11. Archie Jones. Subs not used: 12. James Ducket, 15. Ben Walsh, 17. Lewis Burgess.
Leverstock Green FC (0) 0
1. Liam Gauthier, 2. Ethan Mooney, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Paul Marks (15. Josh Dooley 75 mins), 6. Ryan Carruthers (14. Curtis Dibley 75 mins), 7. Luke Beckwith (12. Lewis Collins 64 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Nat Connolly (16. Ashraf Masumbuko 85 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Sub not used: 19. Scott McGleish.

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