Lords Builders Merchants Stadium

Leverstock Green F.C.

Pancake Lane,
Leverstock Green,
Hemel Hempstead,
Herts.
HP2 4NQ

(H) North Greenford United

Leverstock Green got their first league points on the board with a hard-fought win against a competitive North Greenford United side on Tuesday night.

The goal which proved to be the winner came very early in the match. In the 3rd minute, Will Bisney – making his competitive debut for the club – crossed from the left side of the penalty area, and Luke Peerless came in at the far post to sweep the ball home.

The visitors had a clear target man in their side, with big veteran centre forward Melford Simpson up front, and in the 6th minute Simpson rose at the far post to meet a cross but his header was just wide. Simpson was close again in the 19th minute with a shot wide, but for the most part the Leverstock defence did a very good job in keeping him quiet.

Leverstock had a chance for a second goal on 28 minutes when a pass from Steve Hawes gave Sidney Gueye a run at goal, but keeper Sam House saved with his legs, and Frank Jowle’s effort from the rebound went over the bar. The visitors went close again five minutes before the break when a chip from Conor Molyneaux landed on the crossbar, and in the closing minutes of the half both James Hall and Adiel Mannion got on the end of free kicks from Peerless, but neither could get their headers on target.

The second half proved equally evenly-contested, with Leverstock being somewhat fortunate to survive an almighty goalmouth scramble following an NGU corner in the 56th minute. Leverstock went close again on 60 minutes when Frank Jowle’s corner was flicked on by Gueye and Hall came in with a diving header, but House somehow kept the ball out.

A second goal looked certain four minutes from time when Peerless hit a shot that was heading for the top corner, but Kojo Agyemang made a great clearance to head it off the line. Still there might have been a second goal two minutes later when Jowle was put through on goal, but shot over the bar.

The game was still in the balance going into stoppage time, but Leverstock held out for a very welcome three points, well-deserved for a very determined performance all round but particularly in the defence and midfield.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Peerless 3)
Team: 1. Matt Fallon, 2. Brima Johnson, 3. Will BIsney, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Jamie Ovington, 6. Steve Hawes (12. John Smith 56 mins), 7. James Hall, 8. Luke Peerless, 9. Sidney Gueye (14. Connor Church 76 mins), 10. Adiel Mannion (16. Guiseppe Delgaudio 69 mins), 11. Frank Jowle. Subs not used: 15. Kian Wilkes, 17. Gary Wallace.

North Greenford United (0) 0
Team: 1.Sam House, 2. Ethan Relf, 3. Sam Molyneaux (14. Kojo Agyemang H/T), 4. Callum Rogers, 5. Ryan King, 6. Andrew Manitou, 7. Charlie Mitchell, 8. Joseph Mills, 23. Melford Simpson, 10. Conor Molyneaux (15. Billy Leonard 70 mins), 11. Daniel Clifton (16. Kai Brosnan 60 mins). Subs not used: 12. Tolowalaju James, 17. Simon Wright.

vs

(H) AFC Hayes

Leverstock Green’s FA Vase hopes were ended at the first hurdle as a poor display saw them well beaten at home by Combined Counties League side AFC Hayes.

The first half was evenly-contested, with both sides having a number of half-chances. Matt Fallon made a couple of saves in the opening 15 minutes to keep the visitors out. Miickey Shuttlewood headed just wide from a corner in the 22nd minute after Sidney Gueye had threatened down the right. Three minutes later Luke Peerless got on the end of another corner but his header also went wide. On 31 minutes Adiel Mannion won the ball from a defender and ran on to square the ball into the six yard box, but Gueye couldn’t quite get to it before the keeper. Mannion had the ball in the net with a great finish on 41 minutes, but the linesman had already put the offside flag up.

It looked like the teams would go into the break deadlocked, but deep into stoppage time Leverstock were attacking with a long throw into the AFC Hayes box, but were then caught short at the back as the visitors broke away quickly, and Shawn Wheeler connected with a cross from the left to shoot home a crucial goal on the stroke of half time.

The second half was a major disappointment as Leverstock seldom looked like getting back into the match. The task became even harder on 58 minutes when they were caught on the break again from their own free kick, and Trey Ponder-Brown shot home a second goal for AFC Hayes. A third goal struck by Wheeler on 64 minutes ended the tie as a contest, although AFC Hayes ended the tie with ten men after Theo Alexander was sent off for a second yellow card in the 90th minute.

After three straight defeats, Leverstock now have ten days before their next match, which is a home league match against North Greenford United on Tuesday week.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
Team: 1. Matt Fallon, 2. Brima Johnson, 3. Dan Weeks, 4. Gary Wallace, 5. Mickey Shuttlewood, 6. John Smith (16. Guiseppe Delgaudio 60 mins), 7. James Hall, 8. Luke Peerless, 9. Sidney Gueye, 10. Frank Jowle (14. Elgeniy Daalberg 60 mins), 11. Adiel Mannion.
Subs not used: 15. Steve Hawes, 17. Cass Grant, 18. Jamie Ovington, 19. Will Bisney.

AFC Hayes (1) 3 (Wheeler 45+4, 64, Ponder-Brown 58)
Team: 1. Tom Clark, 2. Shane Kettle (17. Harry Smith 78 mins), 3. Harry Bishop (15. Theo Alexander 40 mins), 4. George Harmes (12. Charlie Quinnell 69 mins), 5. Charlie Howes, 6. Mason Yorke, 7. Bruno Manuel, 8. Jordan Mukasa, 9. Mourad Jarraz, 10. Shawn Wheeler, 11. Trey Ponder-Brown.
Subs not used: 14. Sean Inkpen, 16. Harry Linehan.

vs

(H) Harpenden Town

The under-18s won 3-1 at home to Harpenden Town in their opening SCFYL Corinthian Division fixture on Thursday night.

Lewis Nicholls followed up his hat-trick in last week’s FA Youth Cup tie with two more goals, while David Emiloju scored the other.

Starting XI:
Alfie Atkins
Alfie Bigg
Frankie Bircham
Ethan Bradbury
David Emiloju
Jaylan Hector
Lawrence Knowles
Lewis Nicholls
Aidan O’Connor
Ben Payne
Nana Yeboah

Subs used:
Callum Gerrard
Dylan Jones
Blaaze Lawrence
Wasi Naqvi
Leo Broom

vs

(H) Burnham

Leverstock Green’s run in the FA Cup ended in disappointing fashion as they were beaten at home by Hellenic League side Burnham in Saturday’s Preliminary Round tie. A couple of injury time goals made the scoreline a little flattering for the visitors, but overall they looked the better side against a Leverstock side that didn’t create enough today.

Burnham had the first attempt on goal, with Manny Williams bringing a save out of Matt Fallon in the 13th minute, but two minutes later it was Leverstock who took the lead. Brima Johnson’s ball into the box found Ollie Cox, who finished well with a shot from a narrow angle which beat the keeper and went in off the far post.

However, the lead only lasted for three minutes, as Burnham equalised through Rashid Hamid, who was allowed too much space to turn and hit a shot from distance that flew past Fallon.

The remainder of the first half saw more fouls than scoring chances as the game became increasingly competitive and reached the break with the scores still level.

There continued to be little in the way of chances as the second half progressed, with the referee often being busy as the game threatened to boil over. Burnham had more of the ball going forward, but they had only produced one save from Fallon in the second half before taking the lead in the 72nd minute. Manny Williams got on the end of a cross from the right to head home from close range.

Leverstock forced a few corners as they pushed for an equaliser, but they were unable to force the Burnham keeper into any kind of save. They were still in the game as the match went into stoppage time, but Gavin James put the game beyond their reach as he ran unchallenged through the Green defence to shoot home the third goal in the second minute of stoppage time, and there was a virtual action replay three minutes later as James ran through again to score the fourth.

Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Cox 15)
Team: 1. Matt Fallon, 2. Brima Johnson, 3. Dan Weeks, 4. Jamie Ovington, 5. Mickey Shuttlewood, 6. Jack Stevens, 7. James Hall (15. Tom Carter 69 mins), 8. Ollie Cox (17. Elgeniy Daalberg 80 mins), 9. Sidney Gueye (16. Guiseppe Delgaudio 60 mins), 10. John Smith, 11. Adiel Mannion.
Subs not used: 12. Frank Jowle, 14. Kian Wilkes, 18. Gary Wallace, 19. Adi Connolly.

Burnham (1) 4 (Hamid 18, Williams 72, James 90+2, 90+5)
Team: 1. Carl Dennison, 2. Kian Duncan, 3. Melvy Nsomi (16. Wade Burton 53 mins), 4. Joey Gritt, 5. Ryan Tackley, 6. Dan Malloy, 7. Rashid Hamid, 8. Aaron De Rama (17. Joe Blount H/T), 9. Gavin James, 10. Luke Fanstone, 15. Manny Williams.
Subs not used: 12. James Selby, 14. Jack Petrovic, 18. Adam Bernard, 19. Kingsley Etifia, 20. Bradley Holland.

vs

(H) Wembley

Leverstock Green made a fantastic start to their competitive season, as fans returned to Pancake Lane for the first time in six months to see them win their FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie against Wembley on Tuesday night and set up a home tie against Burnham in the next round.

A lot of work has been done off the field to ensure the ground was ready to receive supporters in a Covid-safe way, and the club was rewarded with a three-figure attendance, which made for a good atmosphere.

Leverstock made a bright start to the game with both Ollie Cox and John Smith having efforts over the bar in the opening three minutes. However, a whirlwind four minute period could have seen the game go either way. In the 11th minute Wembley were awarded a penalty when Ned Jones was fouled by Mickey Shuttlewood on a run into the box. Jones took the penalty himself, but Matt Fallon pulled off a great save to keep it out, and then an even better save to keep out Jones’ effort from the rebound. The second rebound came out to Felix Laws-Cochrane, who sent a header looping just over the bar.

Two minutes later the ball was in the net at the other end as Jamie Ovington got on the end of a free kick to head home, but the Leverstock celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

However, a minute later Leverstock were attacking again, and Smith hit a shot which cannoned off the post. The rebound flew out to Adiel Mannion, who from 20 yards out connected with a superb shot directly into the corner of the net to put the Green into a 1-0 lead.

After a breathless few minutes the game settled down again, but in the 21st minute the visitors equalised, and it was a rare mistake from Fallon, who came out of his goal to collect a ball floated in from the halfway line, but did not get there before Sharif Ibrahim, who headed into the empty net from the edge of the box.

Leverstock were not to be denied, though, and had their lead back four minutes later. Ollie Cox delivered a corner to the edge of the box where Dan Weeks met it with a powerful header that angled into the top far corner of the net.

On 38 minutes it became 3-1. James Hall made a run down the left and put over a great cross which found two Leverstock players waiting at the far post. Smith left it to Sidney Gueye, whose shot was kept out by keeper Karl Beaumont, but the rebound fell to Smith, who calmly shot home the third.

After an all-action first half, the second half was more low-key, with Leverstock continuing to look promising going forward, but without forcing any saves out of Beaumont. At the other end Wembley put on quite a bit of pressure, and it was only a couple of superb point-blank saves from Fallon that prevented them from getting back into the game.

In the end it was a well-deserved win for Matt Harding’s side, who now face Hellenic League side Burnham on Saturday 12th September with the club £1,125 richer in prize money.

Leverstock Green (3) 3 (Mannion 14, Weeks 25, Smith 38)
Team: 1. Matt Fallon, 2. Brima Johnson, 3. Dan Weeks, 4. Jamie Ovington, 5. Mickey Shuttlewood, 20. Jack Stevens, 7. James Hall (16. Kian Wilkes 77 mins), 8. Ollie Cox (14. Elgeniy Daalberg 84 mins), 9. Sidney Gueye (12. Frank Jowle 84 mins), 10. John Smith, 11. Adiel Mannion.
Subs not used: 15. Luke Peerless, 17. Guiseppe Delgaudio, 18. Gary Wallace, 19. Adi Connolly.

Wembley (1) 1 (Ibraham 21)
Team: Karl Beaumont, 2. Kamari Messiah, 3. George Harsini, 4. Wayne Walters, 5. Alfie Bates, 6. Manuchim Oke-William (15. Femi Ogunsola 70 mins), 7. Ethan Tyrer, 8. Rowan Larrington, 9. Ned Jones, 10. Felix Laws-Cochrane (17. Zaid Sabti 61 mins), 11. Sharif Ibrahim (16. Yassine Fehmi-Gil 57 mins).
Subs not used: 12. Craig Elliott Adu-Adiel, 13. Samuel Addae, 14. Ronan Hutchins, 18. Dario Zavagno.

vs

(H) Hitchin Town (No spectators allowed)

Leverstock Green faced a strong Hitchin Town side in their latest pre-season friendly at Pancake Lane on Tuesday night. The visitors largely dominated the game, although the Green side gave a good account of themselves and defended well, without creating much in the way of chances.

Hitchin took the lead in the 33rd minute with a shot from Luke Brown. Leverstock had a chance to level the scores on the stroke of half time after the referee awarded a penalty for a push on Adiel Mannion, but Luke Peerless’s spot kick was saved by keeper Charlie Horlock.

Brown added the second Hitchin goal in the 54th minute with a long-range effort which seemed to move in the air and sent Adi Connolly the wrong way, and Brown completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute by drilling home a free kick from the edge of the box.

Starting XI: Adi Connolly, Brima Johnson, Mickey Shuttlewood, Jamie Ovington, Dan Weeks, John Smith, Luke Peerless, Jack Stevens, James Hall, Ollie Lawford, Adiel Mannion.
Subs used: Steve Hawes, Elgeniy Daalberg, Tom Carter, Ryan O’Sullivan, Will Bisney, Ollie Cox, Trialist.

vs

(H) Marston Shelton Rovers (No spectators allowed)

Leverstock Green continued their pre-season build-up with a home friendly against Bedfordshire County League side Marston Shelton Rovers, which ended as a 2-2 draw. In a complete contrast to the weather last Saturday, this game was played on a damp, overcast afternoon.

The Leverstock side that played the first half produced some excellent football, creating a number of chances, and taking the lead in the 22nd minute when a corner from Shiblu Miah was powerfully headed home by Sidney Gueye. Adiel Mannion and Luke Peerless both had shots saved in the closing minutes of the half as Leverstock went into the break strongly.

Six changes were made at half time, with a further three coming during the second half, and in general the performance was more disjointed and less impressive than that in the first half. The visitors equalised in the 57th minute when their forward was allowed to run into the box and shoot home from a narrow angle. However, Leverstock were back in front within a minute as Gueye went on a run before crossing for Ollie Lawford to hook the ball home.

The visitors were looking the better side late in the game, and equalised with a superb strike in the 83rd minute.

Starting XI:
Adi Connolly, Tyler Martin, Jamie Ovington, Gary Wallace, Dan Weeks, Steve Hawes, Luke Peerless, Elginey Daalburg, Shiblu Miah, Sidney Gueye, Adiel Mannion.
Subs used:
Paplamin Jawara, Ollie Cox, Frank Jowle, Kian Wilkes, Ollie Lawford, John Smith, Tom Carter, James Hall, Trialist.

vs