Leverstock Green and Dunstable Town went into Saturday’s game as the last two remaining unbeaten sides in the SSML Premier Division, and remained so after the game. It was an entertaining and feisty match which saw red cards on both sides, and Leverstock twice held the lead, but in the end a draw was a fair result.

Leverstock started the game brightly and took an early lead in the 6th minute. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica got to the bye-line and clipped the ball into the six yard box, where Chris Blunden met it with a skilful flick past the keeper to open the scoring.

Kyle Faulkner hit a shot just wide for Dunstable in the 13th minute, but with the slope and a breeze in their favour Leverstock had much the better of the possession in the first half, although they didn’t create as many clear-cut chances as their possession merited. Dan Pett launched a number of dangerous corners into the box, and in the last minute of the half one of these caused a goalmouth scramble in which Ryan Carruthers had a shot well saved by visiting keeper Charlie Jones.

Dunstable had the elements in their favour in the second half, and three minutes in they levelled the scores. A long throw into the box caused problems, and Austin Byfield did well to parry away a shot, but Harry Beaumont followed in to net the rebound.

The visitors could have gone in front on 53 minutes with Faulkner clean through on goal, but Byfield produced a great save to block his shot wide. The game exploded on the hour mark as an altercation over a throw-in turned into a mass brawl, which resulted in both sides being reduced to ten men with Stefanoaica and Faulkner being shown straight red cards.

Bobby Armstrong headed just over the bar from a Pett corner in the 69th minute, but in the 76th minute Leverstock went back in front with a spectacular solo goal from Rio Beach, who ran at the penalty area before launching what was probably intended as a cross, but instead drifted over the head of Jones and in off the far post for a 2-1 lead.

However, the lead was short-lived. Before the restart Dunstable brought Sean Immanuel off the bench, and the substitute made an immediate impact by finishing off a Dunstable break with a shot past Byfield to level the scores in the 78th minute.

Dunstable came close to a winner in the 89th minute from a corner. Immanuel’s header came back off the post, and a follow up effort from Remell Stirling was kept out by a brilliant save from man-of-the-match Byfield. Leverstock finished the game with nine men after Ibrahim Nagheeb received his second yellow card for a foul in stoppage time, but the nine men held out for their deserved point.

Leverstock Green (1) 2 (Blunden 6, Beach 76)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield, 3. Rio Beach, 18. Bobby Armstrong, 5. Alvin Kyeremeh, 6. Ibrahim Nagheeb, 7. Ethan Mooney, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. Ryan Carruthers, 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Subs not used: 12. Callum Moore, 14. Kurainashe Musanhi, 15. Ayomide Oke, 16. Brad Robinson, 20. Scott McGleish.
Dunstable Town (0) 2 (Beaumont 48, Immanuel 78)
1. Charlie Jones, 2. Ethan Creary, 3. Benji Crilley, 4. Liam McCrohan, 5. J’Ardell Stirling, 6. Alfie Osborne, 7. Harry Beaumont, 8. Liuke Dunstan (14. Remell Stirling 53 mins), 9. Joe Sellers-West (17. Sean Immanuel 77 mins), 10. Kyle Faulkner, 11. Tolu Ikuyinminu (19. Kelvin Osei-Addo 90 mins). Subs not used: 15. Ruairi Mills, 16. Dan Naylor.

Leverstock Green got their league season back on track as they ended a run of three straight draws with a 3-0 home victory over Shefford Town & Campton. It was a well-deserved win for Fergus Moore’s side, who controlled the game throughout and netted three times while keeping a clean sheet at the other end.

The visitors won four corners in quick succession in the opening minutes of the game, but the Green defence defended them all well. Ibrahim Nagheeb had Leverstock’s first effort at goal in the 6th minute with a shot which was saved and held onto by keeper Kyle Forster.

The scoring was opened in the 10th minute. Chris Blunden received the ball on the halfway line and pushed forward before playing it out wide to Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, who ran on before returning the ball to Blunden on the edge of the box. Blunden then shook off the attention of two defenders to pick his spot and send a superb shot into the top corner of the net.

The lead was doubled in the 17th minute. George Mitchell-Gears curled in a cross from near the left touchline. Alvin Kyemereh got on the end of it and controlled it with his first touch before slotting it under Forster with his second touch to put Leverstock well in control of the game. There might have been a third goal in the 27th minute as Stefanaoica connected with a Dan Pett free kick, but his header went over the bar.

Leverstock continued to impress in the second half, and went close again in the 47th minute as Kyemereh met a Pett free kick with a far post header that brought a good save out of Forster. Lewis Collins was denied a goal in the 62nd minute by the offside flag, and four minutes later slid in to meet a Blunden cross but couldn’t get his effort on target.

Shefford had more of the ball in the second half than they had in the first, but the Leverstock defence kept their shape and discipline throughout, with Bobby Armstrong having a very good game, and the visitors were unable to force a save out of Austin Byfield all afternoon.

Leverstock’s performance deserved a third goal and it arrived in the 82nd minute as Blunden crossed from the bye-line and man of the match Mitchell-Gears finished from close range to leave both players with a goal and an assist each.

Leverstock are still unbeaten after seven league games, and they face another tough challenge next week at home to Dunstable Town, the only other unbeaten side in the division.

Leverstock Green (2) 3 (Blunden 10, Kyemereh 17, Mitchell-Gears 82)
1. Austin Byfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield (16. Brad Robinson 78 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 18. Bobby Armstrong, 5. Alvin Kyemereh, 6. Ibrahim Nagheeb (12. Ryan Carruthers 85 mins), 7. Lewis Collins (14. Kurainashe Musanhi 83 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden, 10. George Mitchell-Gears (15. Ayomide Oke 86 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica (17. Sean Walsh 81 mins).
Shefford Town & Campton (0) 0
1. Kyle Forster, 2. Kane O’Neil (14. Louie Dillon 65 mins), 3. Tom Cooksley, 4. Mark Ansell-Carter (16. James Younger 78 mins), 5. Iain Robinson, 6. Brad Lusty, 7. Ryan Lewis, 8. Sam Day (15. Sam Rogers 73 mins), 9. Henry Snee, 10. Sam King, 17. Charlie Thake (11. Scott Metcalfe 65 mins). Sub not used: 12. Dan Hammer.