Leverstock Green’s fate remains in the balance going into the final matchday of the season, although other results went their way with none of the three sides below them winning. It was a largely inexperienced side that faced title-chasing Hadley, and although the final score was convincing, they put up a good display. A bonus was the first appearance of the season for experienced striker Nick Jackson.

The opening 15 minutes of the match were evenly contested, with the Green side showing some promise, and they had a chance in the 14th minute when a pass from Luis Brooker put Jackson through on goal, but his eventual shot went across goal and wide. Hadley hadn’t had a clear cut chance before taking the lead in the 18th minute. Alfie Bartram played a ball down the line to Ned Clarke, who cut inside and beat a defender before slotting past Ryan Schmid.

On 26 minutes Green defender Lucas Preston made an impressive run from the halfway line into the opposition box and almost set up a chance for Brooker. A minute later at the other end Clarke was in again, but Ethan Flanagan cleared his shot off the line. Leverstock were still holding on as half-time approached, but a second Hadley goal in the last minute of the half made their task a lot more difficult. Emmanuel Hammond’s shot from a narrow angle was saved by Schmid, but the ball went back to Hammond, who squared for Luke Alfano to shoot home.

Five minutes into the second half a pass from Hammond put Alfano through to score his second as Hadley took firm control of the game with a 3-0 lead, and on the hour Clarke fought off a challenge from Flanagan to shoot home his second goal and Hadley’s fourth.

A cross from Bartram found Bradley Marriott all alone at the far post to head home the fifth goal on 77 minutes, and five minutes later substitute Peter Rosemin shot home the sixth Hadley goal. However, there was a consolation of sorts for the Green side a minute later when Jackson hit a tremendous shot from distance which went in off the post to pull a goal back.

Leverstock’s final match is away to Leighton Town next Saturday. The Green are safely clear of Cockfosters, and a point will ensure their survival, but even if they lose they have two chances to stay up with both London Tigers and Stotfold requiring positive results. It is likely to be a tense Saturday afternoon.

Leverstock Green ended a run of five straight league defeats, but their goalless run now extends to six games after a 0-0 draw against Edgware Town at Pancake Lane on Saturday. The Green side had more possession over the game and more chances, but still could not put the ball in the net.

There was certainly a lot of promise about the way the side played during the first half up the slope, but the lack of a final ball meant that chances were limited. In the 20th minute a cross from Kane O’Neil found Shane Wood at the far post, but his header went wide. Two minutes later another cross from O’Neil found Lewis Collins, who connected with a good shot but it looped just over the bar. The closest they came was in the 32nd minute when Ethan Flanagan met Karran Lataille’s corner with a header that was cleared off the line by Edgware defender Rio Beech.

The second half saw Leverstock continue to push forward, although Edgware came more into the game and began to look dangerous on the break. A shot from Khalil Francis on the hour produced the first save of the game as Ryan Schmid deflected it wide with his legs. Two minutes later a pass from Jamie Fulton gave Reece Cameron a run at goal, but his eventual shot was saved at the near post by Edgware keeper Harry Hauserman.

There was another chance in the 78th minute when a corner from Lataille was brought down by Wood at the far post to set up Cameron with a shot, but it went across the face of goal and wide. Two minutes from time Wood hurled a long throw into the box which was headed away, but only as far as Luis Brooker on the edge of the box. Brooker caught his shot well on the volley, but Hauserman produced a great save to tip it over the bar. A minute later Hauserman saved again, tipping a narrow-angle effort from Cameron onto the post as Leverstock continued to be frustrated in front of goal.

The end result was a point which might prove to be crucial at the end of the season and a first clean sheet for Ryan Schmid, but there is still work for this Leverstock side to do to get themselves into a position of safety. Next Saturday they travel to Crawley Green.