It was a third league win in a row for Leverstock Green as they overcame a strong Harpenden Town side in Saturday’s game at the Lords Builders Merchants Stadium. Suspension, illness and injuries meant that it was a somewhat different looking side to last week’s. Goalkeeper Tautvydas Poniskaitis was drafted in to cover for the suspended Austin Byfield, and defenders George Alfieri and Joshua Yoane were brought in on loan from Hadley to play in defence, where Brad Robinson, Adrian Pitfield and Alvin Kyeremeh were all out injured. Skipper Dan Pett was also absent through illness. All three of the newcomers gave excellent performances.

Both sides were playing some good football in the early stages, but without much end product. Chris Blunden brought a good save out of visiting keeper Alex Desmond in the 11th minute, but had already been flagged offside. George Mitchell-Gears had an effort from the edge of the box in the 20th minute which went just over the bar.

In the 42nd minute a pass from Alfieri put Ethan Mooney through on goal. Mooney squared for Blunden, but his shot was saved and he was flagged offside again. However, in the 44th minute a big header from Ryan Carruthers gave Blunden a run at goal. Blunden couldn’t get his shot away, but held onto the ball until support arrived, and squared into the six-yard box where Mitchell-Gears was there to stab home the opening goal.

Having scored just before half time, Leverstock added their second just after half time. A foul on Mitchell-Gears gave Leverstock a free kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out, and just as he did last week, Ibrahim Nagheeb produced a superb strike into the corner of the net. It was also a third goal in successive games for Nagheeb.

However, just over a minute later Harpenden were back in the game. A cross from the left was palmed away by Poniskaitis, but the ball fell for Josh Setchell, who drove home a shot to pull the score back to 2-1.

For the remainder of the game it was end-to-end stuff. The nearest that Leverstock came to extending their lead was in the 76th minute when Bobby Armstrong’s header from a corner was well saved by Desmond. Harpenden had a couple of good chances from headers in the 77th and 80th minutes but both efforts were off-target. A cross from Rio Beach in the 86th minute set up a shooting chance for Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, but his well-hit effort was blocked. A minute later Harpenden had the ball flashing across the face of the Leverstock goal but with no-one on the end of it.

Leverstock used every tactic during stoppage time to run more seconds off the clock, and unlike recent games where they have surrendered a single-goal lead late on, this time they closed the game out for a crucial three points which takes them up to 5th in the Premier Division table.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Mitchell-Gears 44, Nagheeb 48)
1. Tautvydas Poniskaitis, 2. George Alfieri, 3. Rio Beach, 18. Bobby Armstrong, 5. Joshua Yoane, 6. Ryan Carruthers, 7. Radu-Mihair Stefanoaica, 8. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 9. Chris Blunden (12. Elgeniy Daalberg 90 mins), 10. George Mitchell-Gears, 11. Ethan Mooney. Subs not used: 14. Freddie Newing, 15. Ayomide Oke, 16. Sean Walsh, 20. Scott McGleish.
Harpenden Town (0) 1 (Setchell 49)
1. Alex Desmond, 2. Andrew Simmons, 3. Jake Collins (17. Isaiah Hilaire 79 mins), 4. Ryan Plowright, 5. Josh Rodrigues, 6. Mickey Shuttlewood, 7. Josh Setchell, 8. Lewis Croucher (16. Joe Devaney 62 mins), 9. Jake Anthony, 10. Nathan McGreevy (12. Billy Owen 75 mins), 11. James Younger (15. Michael Gabblah 62 mins). Sub not used: 14. Bobby London.

After six league games without a win, Leverstock Green finally returned to winning ways in style with a 4-1 win over Baldock Town in Saturday’s SSML Premier Division fixture, completing a league double over Baldock.

Most of the damage was done in the first half, despite a quiet start to the game. The game’s first shot was an effort over the bar in the 7th minute from Rio Beach. Leverstock had the ball in the 10th minute as George Mitchell-Gears slotted home from a Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica cross, but he was flagged for offside. At the other end two minutes later Lawrence Ajong put the ball across the face of the Leverstock goal, but no-one was on the end of it, and on 15 minutes a shot from Dominik Robertson stung the hands of Austin Byfield.

Leverstock were having more of the goal threat. On 16 minutes a cross from Brad Robinson was over the outstretched arm of keeper David Archer but dropped onto the bar, and on 27 minutes a cross from Stefanoaica was met with a glancing header from Ethan Mooney that was not enough to divert it on target. Finally in the 30th minute Mooney did well on the right edge of the penalty area and chipped a cross into the six yard box, where Stefanoaica met it with a volley to open the scoring and notch his first goal for the club in his 8th game.

He didn’t have long to wait for his second goal. In the 38th minute Mooney exchanged passes with Blunden on a quick break before sending over a cross from the bye-line which found Stefanoaica on the edge of the six yard box with the space to control the ball with his first touch and calmly drill home a shot with his second touch for a 2-0 lead.

It should have been 3-0 in the 42nd minute when Blunden was clean through against Archer, but Leverstock’s top scorer was uncharacteristically off target as he blasted the ball over the bar. However, the third goal did arrive in the first minute of stoppage time, as Ibrahim Nagheeb received a pass from Stefanoaica and stroked a shot from the edge of the box low into the corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Baldock had played better than the scoreline suggested in the first half, and they had the better of the early stages of the second half as they put the Green goal under some pressure, but were unable to get the early goal that might have caused some nerves in the Leverstock defence. Instead it was the Green side that increased their lead in the 58th minute. A corner was cleared to the edge of the box, where Stefanoaica met it with a shot into the ground which was probably going into the net as it bounced towards the goal, but Blunden made sure as he got his head to the ball inches before the goalline to register a goal for the fourth straight game.

Blunden was replaced by new signing Tyriq Hunte immediately after bagging his goal, with one eye on the injury that caused him to leave Wednesday night’s game early. Baldock looked like getting a goal back in the 65th minute when Ryan Lamond was through on goal, but Byfield did well to turn his shot wide. Leverstock were unable to add to their tally, with off-target efforts from Mooney and Hunte being as close as they got.

They were also denied the clean sheet as Baldock got their consolation goal in the 89th minute with a free kick from outside the box that somehow got through everyone and rolled into the corner of the net. However, it was still an excellent win which lifts Leverstock back into the top half of the table. Despite Stefanoaica’s two goals and two assists, Bobby Armstrong was nominated as man-of-the-match for his solid performance at the back.

Leverstock Green (3) 4 (Stefanoaica 30, 38, Nagheeb 45+1, Blunden 58)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Brad Robinson (15. Ayomide Oke 70 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 18. Bobby Armstrong, 5. Alvin Kyeremeh, 6. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden (14. Tyriq Hunte 59 mins), 10. George Mitchell-Gears (16. Sean Walsh 67 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Subs not used: 12. Ryan Carruthers, 20. Scott McGleish.
Baldock Town (0) 1 (TBA 89)
1. David Archer, 19. Tommy Reynolds (2. Dean Laing 79 mins), 3. Callum Kane, 4. Charlie Joy (12. Mamadou Diallo 52 mins), 5. Josh Furness, 6. Luke Rowland, 7. Owen Robertson, 8. Dominik Robertson (16. Zach Decker 64 mins), 9. Lawrence Ajong (14. Ryan Lamond H/T), 10. Jude White, 11. Jamie Essam (15. Chris Uchenna 68 mins).

Leverstock Green were left frustrated again as an injury time equaliser saw their run of draws continue. Fergus Moore’s side had come from behind twice to lead against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, but again were unable to close out the win as they registered their seventh draw in the last nine games. The visitors were under new management and with a largely new squad from the previous game, and they looked a good side who were worth their point.

The early stages of the game saw little goalmouth action, with Leverstock having a few shots which were either wide of the target or comfortably gathered by keeper Archie Davis. The first serious save of the game was made by Leverstock keeper Austin Byfield in the 25th minute as he tipped over a free kick from Jacob Williamson. However, within a minute the visitors were ahead as a cross from Williams found Jake Baldwin, whose header went in off the post to open the scoring.

Byfield saved again in the 30th minute to keep out a shot from Dan Lambeth, and a minute later the game was back on level terms. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, back after a three-game suspension, threaded a pass to Chris Blunden, who slotted the ball past Davis for the Leverstock equaliser.

The scores were still level at half time, but Aylesbury took little time to re-establish their lead in the second half. With little over a minute played Leverstock conceded an unnecessary corner, and Williamson’s cross was headed into the top corner by Terry Griffiths.

Once again, though, they only held onto their lead for five minutes, as Leverstock levelled with a well-worked goal in the 52nd minute. Ethan Mooney exchanged passes with George Mitchell-Gears on a run into the box and fired home from a narrow angle for a 2-2 scoreline.

Three minutes later Blunden tried his luck from a free kick, but the ball flew over the bar, and in the 58th minute Blunden was unlucky as he slid in at the far post to meet a deflected cross from Stefanoaica, but the ball curled just over the angle of post and bar. A shot from Stefanoaica in the 71st minute brought a good save out of Davis. Leverstock were generally having the better of things, but the visitors occasionally threatened with long balls to Lambeth which could have produced better results.

Five minutes from time Leverstock finally got their noses in front. A corner resulted in a scramble in which Elgeniy Daalberg had two shots blocked, then Dan Pett’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Blunden, who netted from close range to reach double figures for the season and put his side into a 3-2 lead.

As the 90 minutes ticked over it looked like Leverstock would be able to hold out for the win, but in the first minute of stoppage time they gave the ball away near their own corner flag. Fabian Garcia won the ball and crossed into the six yard box, where Baldwin shot home to level the scores at 3-3.

Leverstock pushed forward in search of another goal, and had the ball inside the Aylesbury box in the last minute of stoppage time, but despite twisting and turning Scott McGleish could not get a shot away and the danger was cleared.

Leverstock Green (1) 3 (Blunden 31, 85, Mooney 52)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Brad Robinson, 3. Rio Beach, 18. Bobby Armstrong, 5. Alvin Kyeremeh, 6. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 7. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (20. Scott McGleish 90 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. George Mitchell-Gears (12. Ryan Carruthers 87 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney (14. Elgeniy Daalberg 72 mins). Subs not used: 15. Ayomide Oke, 17. Sean Walsh.
Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (1) 3 (Baldwin 26, 90+1, Griffiths 47)
1. Archie Davis, 2. Jack Empson, 3. Jake Baldwin, 4. Antonio Ianelli, 5. Terry Griffiths, 6. Charlie Atwell, 7. Curtis Brown (16. Fabian Garcia 66 mins), 8. Dave Brown (15. Charlie Jackson H/T), 9. Dan Lambeth, 10. Jacob Williamson (12. Max Rosner 82 mins), 11. Rio Deall. Subs not used: 14. Jet Dyer, 17. Sam Wood.

The two sides were also playing for the KitAid Supporters Cup, a trophy donated by match sponsors KitAid. As the game was drawn, the trophy will be carried over to the return fixture in January.

For the sixth time in their last eight league matches Leverstock Green ended up with a share of the points, but this was another very good performance against a team in the top four of the division. Leverstock dominated for long periods of the game and were twice in front, but the division’s top scorer Taylor Rhiney scored two goals from two chances to level the scores.

With more injuries to their centre-backs, Leverstock played with Bobby Armstrong and Scott McGleish at the centre of defence throughout, and McGleish’s performance earned him the man-of-the-match award. Leverstock started the game strongly, and went close to taking the lead in the 7th minute when skipper Dan Pett hit the bar with a shot struck from the edge of the box. Two minutes later Pett had another shot which went over the bar, but in the 19th minute Pett finally hit the target with a low drive from 20 yards that found the bottom corner of the net to give his side a deserved lead.

However, that lead only lasted three minutes. Bigglewade won a free kick a few yards outside the left edge of the penalty area.  It looked like a position from where the ball would be crossed in, but Rhiney had other ideas as he curled the ball over the wall and over the outstretched arm of Austin Byfield into the top corner of the net for a stunning equaliser.

Leverstock had dominated up to this point but it was an even game for the remainder of the half, and the nearest that either side came to finding the net was in the 28th minute when the visitors broke away quickly and Raheem Jabbar got in behind the Green defence but struck the bar with his shot.

The second half was largely played in heavy rain, and just as Leverstock had started the first half well, they also made a great start to the second half. Two minutes in Chris Blunden got past a defender and sent over a cross, but Ibrahim Nagheeb couldn’t get his header on target. In the 50th minute Brian Testolin showed some good footwork to make a solo run into the box before setting up Blunden for a shot which keeper Tom Wyant could only parry. Ethan Mooney came in for the rebound but put it into the side netting. Two minutes later Mooney made up for his miss by threading a pass to put Blunden through against Wyant, and although the keeper got a boot onto Blunden’s shot, it wasn’t enough to stop it going into the net and putting Leverstock back in front at 2-1.

On the hour Leverstock were awarded a free kick about 30 yards from goal, and Blunden tried his luck with a shot which cleared the wall but was turned wide by a good save from Wyant. The keeper failed to hold onto the resulting corner but was not punished. Another corner three minutes later dropped for Armstrong on the edge of the box but his shot went over the bar. As the game went into its last ten minutes a neat sidestep from Testolin opened up a shooting chance but his shot was gathered by Wyant.

With five minutes remaining Leverstock were still holding onto their lead and looking good value for it, but they were hit by an equaliser which came almost out of nothing. A ball was punted forward and found Rhiney on the edge of the box with his back to goal, and the striker wasted no time in turning and shooting low into the corner of the net to level the scores at 2-2.

Over the closing minutes both sides pushed forward in search of a winner, and either side could have won it. Leverstock’s best chance came when Sean Walsh won the ball off a defender to go through on goal, but Walsh chose to shoot from a narrow angle when pulling the ball back for Blunden might have been the better option, and it was deflected behind.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Pett 19, Blunden 52)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield (16. Brad Robinson 30 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 18. Bobby Armstrong, 20. Scott McGleish, 6. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 7. Brian Testolin, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. Ryan Carruthers (17. Sean Walsh 84 mins), 11. Ethan Mooney. Subs not used: 12. Elgeniy Daalberg, 14. Freddie Newing, 15. Ayomide Oke.
Biggleswade United (1) 2 (Rhiney 22, 85)
1. Tom Wyant, 2. Milo Keane (16. Mason Watkins-Clark 57 mins), 3. Cameron Hyde, 4. Lewis Jones, 5. Jemale McKenzie, 6. Jordan Wright, 7. Markel Cousins (17. Domenico Morgillo 73 mins), 8. Conor Inskip (12. Josh Sturniolo 57 mins), 9. Taylor Rhiney, 10. Jaiden Irish, 11. Raheem Jabbar (15. Yemi Adelani 68 mins). Sub not used: 14. Gareth Hunt.