There was another disappointing cup exit for Leverstock Green on Tuesday night as they were beaten 3-1 at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos in their FA Vase First Qualifying Road replay. Most of the damage was done in the first half as Leverstock went into the break three goals down.
The Green side made a bright start, with home keeper James Weatherill having to gather the ball at the feet of Frankie Jowle in the second minute. In the 9th minute Jowle made a great run to the bye-line before pulling the ball back, but Tom Carter’s shot went over the bar.
The game turned decisively in favour of the hosts midway through the half. On 22 minutes a cross from Dan McAteer found the head of Keith Mupfururiwa, who had a free header to put his side into a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later that lead was doubled when Alfie Gaspar hit a shot from 25 yards that gave Carl Tasker no chance as it flew into the net.
Leverstock had a chance to pull a goal back in the 26th minute when the ball broke for Luke Peerless inside the box, but he hit his shot well wide. A tall order became even harder three minutes before the break when a cross from Harry Scott found Ryan Tappin to shoot home a third Aylesbury goal from close range.
The second half was something of a non-event with the home side looking happy with their lead and the Leverstock side rarely looking like breaking them down. With six minutes to go Leverstock had the chance to get on the scoresheet when Jowle was brought down in the box, and Jack Stevens netted the resulting penalty to pull a goal back. Things could have become more interesting a minute later when Louie Griffiths had a chance, but his shot went wide, and in the end it was the hosts who went closest to adding further goals with Bruno Brito hitting one shot over the bar and another saved by Tasker in stoppage time.