Leverstock Green’s bid to stay in the Southern League took a blow on Tuesday night with a home defeat against playoff-chasing Barton Rovers. It was a good effort by a Leverstock side further depleted with three players missing from Saturday’s lineup, and they finished the game strongly but could not find an equaliser.

The first half was dominated by Barton, and Leverstock were somewhat fortunate that they only had one goal to show for it. Barton went close with early efforts from Alfie Warman and Markel Cousins, and in the 14th minute Taylor Rhiney was through on goal but Ryan North saved. Barton’s goal came in the 37th minute from a corner, which was driven low towards the near post. The ball went under Nat Connolly’s feet and Rhiney bundled the ball home from close range. Matthew Moloney should have added a second in the 42nd minute but missed a sitter from close range.

The early stages of the second half saw the visitors continue to have the upper hand, with North having to make two quick saves in the 49th minute. Rhiney was through on goal again in the 61st minute, but his shot hit the post, perhaps with a faint touch from North.

Leverstock’s first serious effort on goal was a Kyle Connolly shot from the edge of the box that went just wide in the 62nd minute. There was another chance in the 69th minute when a shot from Keanu Fleming was saved by keeper Dylan Thompson, and Luke Beckwith’s effort from the rebound was blocked wide.

In the 80th minute a corner from Kyle Connolly was heading directly for goal but was headed off the line by a defender. Another Connolly corner in the 88th minute caused a goalmouth scramble in which the Leverstock players were convinced that Ryan Carruthers had put the ball over the line, but it was not given. Over the final minutes Barton were hanging on as Leverstock continued to push forward, but could not find the goal that their play over the last 30 minutes had deserved.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Ryan North, 2. Oliwier Fusiek (14. Josh Dooley 53 mins), 3. Kyle Connolly, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Nat Connolly, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Lewis Collins, 8. Rawn Seale, 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio, 10. Marcus Warren (16. Keanu Fleming 66 mins), 11. Luke Beckwith. Subs not used: 12. Jose Costa, 16. Lucas Georgiou, 17. Callum Moore.
Barton Rovers (1) 1 (Rhiney 37)
1. Dylan Thompson, 2. Josh Flanagan, 3. Cameron Hyde, 4. Martel Powell, 5. Robbie Goodman, 6. Charlie Mliton, 7. Ashton Grant (12. Saul Williams 87 mins), 8. Alfie Warman (15. Kian Wilkes 75 mins), 9. Matthew Moloney, 10. Markel Cousins (16. Thomas Baggaley 87 mins), 11. Taylor Rhiney (14. Albie Hall 66 mins). Sub not used: 17. Mason Watkins.