Leverstock Green added another big three points to their tally with a comfortable 4-0 win over Aylesbury Vale Dynamos on Tuesday night. It was Aylesbury’s home game, but due to the continuing problems with their pitch, the game was switched to the Lords Builders Merchants Stadium.

As with Saturday’s game at Bedford, there was an early penalty shout for Leverstock as Rio Beach went down under a challenge in the box, but the referee waved away the appeals. However, Leverstock had much the better of the early play and soon made it count. In the 16th minute a slick passing move around the box ended with Guiseppe Delgaudio playing in Beach to slot the ball past the keeper and put Leverstock into a 1-0 lead.

There could have been a second goal five minutes later as Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica crossed to set up a chance for Delgaudio, but he hit it straight at the keeper. The second goal wasn’t long in arriving, though. In the 23rd minute a clearance down the middle from Aylesbury was headed straight back towards goal, and Delgaudio flicked on a pass to put Stefanoaica through on goal, and Stefanoaica skilfully sent a lob over the keeper to make it 2-0 to Leverstock.

It got even better for Leverstock in the 29th minute as Delgaudio picked up his third assist of the game, getting to the byeline to pull the ball across goal for Luke Beckwith to shoot home from close range for a 3-0 Leverstock lead. Two minutes before half time Delgaudio added his own name to the scoresheet. Ryan Carruthers cleared from the edge of his own box to find Delgaudio on the halfway line, and he did the rest, running towards goal to slot past the keeper and make it 4-0 to Leverstock before half time.

Having established a comfortable lead, Leverstock took their foot off the pedal somewhat in the second half, using the opportunity to give some players an early rest with Thursday’s Gladwish Challenge Trophy tie at Codicote in mind. Aylesbury had more possession in the second half, but were unable to create anything to trouble Leverstock keeper Liam Gauthier.

Ethan Mooney came closest to adding a fifth Leverstock goal, getting on the end of a cross from Stefanoaica at the far post in the 64th minute, but couldn’t divert the ball on target. The Leverstock side had to settle for the 4-0 win which further strengthens their bid for a promotion play-off place.

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (0) 0
1.  Charlie Jones, 2. Aaron Pike (15. Callum Hall 37 mins), 3. Martin Lancaster, 4. Tyler Lawson, 5. Jordan Jenkins (14. Princewill Madu 68 mins), 6. Nathan Brownsword, 7. Abu Khan (12. Sean Duodu 68 mins), 8. Tommy Lethbridge (17. Fabian Garcia 37 mins), 9. Jake Baldwin, 10. Dave Brown (16. Abdullah Jellal 68 mins), 11. Alfie Anderson.
Leverstock Green (4) 4 (Beach 16, Stefanoaica 23, Beckwith 29, Delgaudio 43)
1. Liam Gauthier, 2. Callum Neal, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Josh Dooley, 5. Paul Marks, 6. Ryan Carruthers (14. Ashraf Masumbuko 73 mins), 7. Luke Beckwith (15. Ethan Mooney H/T), 8. Dan Pett (16. Dan Weeks 70 mins), 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (12. Curtis Dibley 60 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Sub not used: 19. Scott McGleish.

Leverstock Green FC got back to winning ways with a hard-fought win against Arlesey Town in Tuesday night’s SSML Premier Division game. As in the first game against Arlesey back in January, Leverstock had to come from behind to get their win.

It was a game of few clear-cut chances for either side. After an even opening to the game, it was Arlesey who took the lead in the 24th minute. Leverstock were caught on the break after giving the ball away, and as Rory Busby chased a ball forward, Josh Bowler came out to intercept, but slipped in the muddy goalmouth. That gave Busby the chance to get to the ball first, and with Bowler stranded, Busby was able to chip the ball over him and find the net.

It was a frustrating half for Leverstock Green FC, who were struggling to put together any passing moves, but they got back on level terms in the 36th minute. A cross from the right found Lewis Collins, who laid the ball back to find Ryan Carruthers just outside the box, and Carruthers took a touch before striking a fierce shot that flew past keeper Ollie Skinner for the equaliser.

Half time was reached with the scores level from the only two efforts on target in the half. Leverstock Green FC got their noses in front in the 54th minute with a scrambled goal from a corner. Nat Connolly’s cross found Josh Dooley, whose header was blocked, and Luke Beckwith forced the loose ball home. The second half was as short on chances as the first, with a shot from Rio Beach being tipped over the bar by Skinner in the 66th minute.

Guiseppe Delgaudio came off the bench in the 73rd minute to mark his return to the club he last played for in 2020, having played at Tring in the interim, and there was also a first team debut off the bench for promising Development Team player Schilo Mateta Kanda. Bowler had to deal with an awkward low shot from Bowler in the 88th minute, but the Leverstock defence held firm and there was no repeat of Saturday’s last-gasp disappointment as the Green side held out for the 2-1 win and three more points to boost their play-off bid.

Leverstock Green FC (1) 2 (Carruthers 36, Beckwith 54)
1. Josh Bowler, 2. Brad Robinson, 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Josh Dooley, 6. Ademide Baruwa, 7. Luke Beckwith (14. Schilo Mateta Kanda 90 mins), 8. Ryan Carruthers (15. Paul Marks 83 mins), 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Nat Connolly, 11. Lewis Collins (12. Guiseppe Delgaudio 73 mins). Subs not used: 16. Callum Moore, 19. Scott McGleish.
Arlesey Town FC (1) 1 (Busby 24)
1. Ollie Skinner, 2. Matt Gilbert, 3. Tommy Cooney, 4. Alex Taylor, 5. Steve Sylvester, 6. Isaaq Araba, 7. Eddie Carrington, 8. Montel Brown (12. Joe Abe 60 mins), 9. Rory Busby, 10. Noah Mosanya, 11. Tommy Blennerhassett (16. Bruno Brito 68 mins). Subs not used: 14. Euan Howe, 15. Brandon Beaman, 17. Zach Guafi.