It was a memorable night for Leverstock Green as they came out on top in a titanic battle against Hadley to reach the Second Round Qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup. Chris Blunden’s second half free kick settled this First Round Qualifying replay at Potters Bar, taking the Green through to a home tie against Bostik League Premier Division side Dorking Wanderers on Saturday week. Leverstock have at least equalled their best ever FA Cup performance, they have got through the three rounds so far without conceding a goal and they are the last surviving Spartan South Midlands League side in the competition. The £6000 prize money tonight takes their total won in the competition up to £11,140.

Just as on Saturday it was a very tight game between two well-matched sides with strong defences. Leverstock’s first near-miss came in the 10th minute when Alex Witham won the ball on the bye-line and pulled it back for Blunden, whose shot was deflected just wide of the goal. A minute later Witham crossed into the box for Jonny Miller, whose glancing header went just wide. At the other end, a deflected shot in the 27th minute brought the first save out of Arvydas Kacinkevicius.

Hadley made a strong start to the second half, with Kacinkevicius having to parry away a shot in the opening minute. A minute later Peter Rosemin found himself with a clear shooting opportunity inside the box but hit it wide. A fierce shot from Jeff Idemudia brought another good save out of Kacinkevicius in the 50th minute.

Leverstock soon got back into the game, and a superb long-range strike from Mark Smith which hit the bar in the 57th minute was the closest that either side had come to breaking the deadlock in either game. On 66 minutes Miller came in to meet a Jonathan Lacey corner on the edge of the six yard box but his effort went over the bar.

An opportunity finally opened up for Leverstock in the 77th minute when Blunden received a pass from Lacey and was brought down by defender Sam Lyon just outside the box to give them a free kick in a great position. Blunden took the kick himself and curled it low around the wall towards the bottom corner, where it went in off the post to spark scenes of great celebration as the Green finally had their noses in front.

Hadley kept on battling to the end, through seven minutes of stoppage time during which Kacinkevicius had to make another good save from Idemudia, gathering the ball at the second attempt. Leverstock were not to be denied, though, and got what they deserved for a superb hard-working display across the park and a great defensive show, particularly from Shane Wood who gave a true captain’s performance at the heart of a defence which now has five straight clean sheets in all competitions.

The cup ties continue to come for Leverstock, with the FA Vase coming into focus on Saturday as United Counties League side Raunds Town visit Pancake Lane for a Second Round Qualifying tie.