There will be no Emirates FA Cup run for Leverstock Green after they were beaten at home by a single goal by Essex Senior League side Ilford in Saturday’s Extra Preliminary Round tie. Leverstock played some good football and dominated long periods of the game, but they were unable to get past a strong Ilford defence.

Juan Pablo Velasco looked impressive from the start with his skill and pace, and in the 6th minute his cross just eluded the head of Aldo Petagine. In the 18th minute Velasco was brought down by a foul on the bye-line just outside the penalty area. The resulting free kick was driven across goal but no-one could apply the finishing touch.

Kai Nemoto was also looking threatening, and in the 24th minute was brought down for a free kick in a dangerous position, but Velasco’s effort from the kick went over the bar. Three minutes later a great pass from Velasco put Rio Beach in on goal, but he couldn’t get his shot away.

Leverstock had been in control for most of the game, but in the 33rd minute they found themselves a goal down against the run of play. David Luzolo’s hooked shot was out of the reach of Harry Way and went in off the post.

In the 38th minute Matt Forkin made a driving run down the left win and delivered a cross which was knocked down by Petagine to Guiseppe Delgaudio, who shot over the bar from close range with what was probably Leverstock’s best chance of the half.

The second half saw Leverstock continue to have most of the ball, but again they were getting little change out of the Ilford defence. Beach had a shot from distance in the 58th minute which keeper Wilkinson Boateng gathered at the second attempt. Ten minutes later Velasco hit a low shot from distance which went just wide.

A series of substitutions saw Leverstock change their forward line, but to no avail. Substitute Justin Dass had a chance in the 75th minute, winning the ball from a defender on the edge of the box to go clean through against Boateng, but couldn’t get his shot away before being shut down by the keeper.

Leverstock kept pushing for the equaliser towards the end, winning a series of corners late on, one of which was headed over the bar by Josh Dooley, but they could not find the finishing touch to save the game.

Leverstock Green (0) 0
1. Harry Way, 2. Callum Neal (12. Dan Casey 71 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Josh Dooley, 5. Matt Forkin, 6. Ryan Carruthers (15. Oliver Glimas 83 mins), 7. Juan Pablo Velasco, 8. Nat Connolly (17. John Gyabaah 68 mins), 9. Guiseppe Delgaudio (19. Joel Onu 70 mins), 10. Kai Nemoto (14. Justin Dass 56 mins), 11. Aldo Petagine. Subs not used: 16. Ollie Grieves, 18. Brad Robinson.
Ilford (1) 1 (Luzolo 33)
1. Wilkinson Boateng, 2. Nik Ahmadi, 3. Louis Hiobi, 4. Benjamin Eboh, 5. Abdul Rahman Fujah (10. Joel Appiah 79 mins), 6. Emmanuel Wazola, 7. Maksym Trush, 9. Greg Akpele (18. Dion Tansele 90 mins), 14. David Luzolo (11. Tylla Addai 79 mins), 17. Abdul Shobowale, 19. Saikoutijan Jatta. Subs not used: 8. Mohamed Habib, 12. Muamar Osman, 15. Chris Barbosa, 16. Michael Okafor.