Leverstock Green fell to a narrow defeat in Tuesday night’s Southern League Division One Central fixture at home to Ware. After a first half in which Leverstock played very well, they went into half time a goal down, and the visitors generally had the better of the second half.

Fergus Moore continues to be plagued by injuries, with Guiseppe Delgaudio, Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, Ryan Carruthers, Gary Connolly and Jamie Breen among those unfit to play in this game. Leverstock created some good chances in the first half. In the 11th minute Ademide Baruwa set up a chance for Luke Beckwith after the referee had played a good advantage, but Beckwith’s effort was wide. Baruwa played a superb pass in the 25th minute to put Rio Beach through on goal, but his shot was kept out by keeper Fred Burbidge. In the 33rd minute a cross from Beach had Dan Pett diving in to meet it, but it just eluded him.

Having been the better side throughout the half, Leverstock found themselves a goal down in the 40th minute. Alfie Bonfield did well to tip a close-range header onto the bar, but Jon Clements followed up to head home the rebound.

The second half saw Ware miss a number of good chance to extend their lead. In the 56th minute Mackye Townsend-West had a free header from a corner, but couldn’t divert it on target, and six minutes later another good chance from a corner was missed. In the 68th minute Jack Dreyer hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the box.

Leverstock had created little in the second half, but in the closing minutes they came close to finding the equaliser. Ethan Mooney was denied by a save from point-blank range in the 81st minute, and Beach had a shot from similarly close range saved by Burbidge in the 89th minute. Deep into stoppage time Rawn Seale stabbed an effort towards goal that was going in until it was kept out by a last-ditch goalline clearance.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Ethan Mooney (17. Cem Poyraz 86 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Lewis Collins (14. Isaiah Hilaire 66 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Nat Connolly (16. Callum Moore 82 mins), 11. Luke Beckwith (15. Tyrone Kumi 73 mins). Sub not used: 12. Josh Dooley.
Ware (1) 1 (Clements 40)
1. Fred Burbidge, 2. Chukuma Okotcha, 3. David Sota, 4. Jack Dreyer, 5. Mackye Townsend-West, 6. Jay Rolfe, 7. Johnny Allotey, 8. Max Granville, 9. Jon Clements, 10. Thomas Kay (15. Gabriel Chapps H/T), 11. Joe Dearman. Subs not used: 12. Mitchel Hahn, 14. Isaac Evans, 19. Lewis Thomas.

Leverstock Green twice came from behind to earn another point in the Southern League Division One Central. The Leverstock side turned in a very hard-working and battling performance against Leighton Town and were well worth their point against a team in good form recently.

It wasn’t a great start for Leverstock as the visitors took the lead in the 8th minute from a very straightforward goal. Charlie Pattison rose unchallenged at the near post to head home a corner.

However, Leverstock got themselves into the game and went close to an equaliser in the 26th minute as a pass from Luke Beckwith put Guiseppe Delgaudio in on goal, but visiting keeper Connor Hunt saved Delgaudio’s shot. The equaliser came seconds later, though, as a pass from Delgaudio put Lewis Collins clean through on goal, and Collins took the ball round Hunt before slotting into the empty net for 1-1.

It looked like the scores would be level at the break, but in first half stoppage time Leverstock conceded again from a corner. Jack Sayell’s header was saved by Alfie Bonfield, but the rebound was not cleared and Sayell pounced to force the loose ball home for a 2-1 Leighton lead.

Seven minutes into the second half Leverstock were awarded a penalty as Hunt brought down Dan Pett inside the box as he chased a rebound. Beckwith stepped up to take the spot kick and sent it past Hunt to level the scores again at 2-2.

Leverstock went close to going in front for the first time in the 66th minute. A neat reverse pass from Pett gave Collins the chance to show his pace and race clear of the Leighton defence, however Collins’ eventual shot went across goal and just eluded Delgaudio sliding in at the far post. Tolu Ikuyinminu had the best chance for Leighton to win the game in the 71st minute when through on goal, but hit his shot wide under pressure from a Leverstock defender. Leighton put the Leverstock goal under quite a bit of pressure in the closing minutes, but they held out to claim the point from an entertaining game.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Collins 26, Beckwith 53 pen)
1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Ethan Mooney, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 18. Eyituoyo Akinbulumo, 6. Nat Connolly, 7. Lewis Collins (17. Rawn Seale 69 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (16. Tyrone Kumi 82 mins), 10. Lewis Croucher (12. Ademide Baruwa 57 mins), 11. Luke Beckwith (15. Isaiah Hilaire 76 mins). Sub not used: 14. Josh Dooley.
Leighton Town (2) 2 (Pattison 8, Sayell 45+1)
1. Connor Hunt, 2. Charlie Stirland, 3. Sebastian Simpson, 4. Ben Farrell (17. Alfie Tucker 69 mins), 5. Luke Tingey, 6. Lee Cooksey, 7. Samuel King, 8. Jack Sayell (12. Emmanuel Dahle 69 mins), 9. Lynton Goss, 10. Charlie Pattison, 11. Tolu Ikuyinminu (16. Kyle Boyce 79 mins). Subs not used: 14. Harry Tucker, 15. Ben Ford.