Leverstock Green FC’s unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday night as they were beaten 4-1 at FC Romania in their third SSML Premier Division fixture of the season. It was a deserved win for the home side, who took advantage of a couple of mistakes to hold a three goal lead at the break against Leverstock Green FC, and never looked like relinquishing the game in the second half.

Leverstock Green FC made a good start to the game, and went close with just a minute played when Callum Neal headed a free kick back across goal to Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, whose stabbed shot was deflected wide for a corner. In the 13th minute Luke Beckwith had a run at goal before hitting a shot over the bar.

Two minutes later Leverstock were defending in their own box, and the ball was given away to Malik Nosik, who controlled it before hitting a bullet of a shot from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net, which gave Loris Marcimain no chance.

Leverstock were denied an equaliser in the 28th minute by a great save from home keeper Elgi Fejzo, who dived full-length to his right to turn away a Chris Blunden free kick. On 37 minutes another mistake was punished as the ball was given away near the halfway line and the home side broke quickly. Alie Bangura outpaced Brad Robinson down the left touchline and put over a cross which was finished from close range by Tobi Coker.

Leverstock’s task was made even harder in the last minute of the half when Coker scored his second with another tremendous shot from distance which again left Marcimain standing as it flew into the net.

Things could have got worse in the opening seconds of the second half as FC Romania attacked straight from the kick-off and looked to have a good shout for a penalty, but the referee turned down their appeals. Leverstock pushed forward promisingly a few times during the half, but the home side were still well in control, and Marcimain made a couple of great saves to deny Coker a hat-trick.

There was a glimmer of hope for Leverstock Green FC seven minutes from time when substitute Connor McGinty cleared the ball from his own half and found Stefanoaica on the halfway line. Stefanoaica took the ball past Fejzo, who had come way out of his area, and ran on to calmly slot into the empty net to reduce the arrears to 3-1. Stefanoaica went close again in stoppage time with a shot across goal which went just wide. However, the home side’s three-goal lead was restored when Zenon Stylianides was put through to slot past Marcimain for their fourth goal, and it was the last kick of the game as the referee blew for time as soon as the ball hit the net.

Leverstock Green FC will have to pick themselves up quickly as they face a difficult FA Cup tie on Saturday away to Isthmian League North Division side Walthamstow.

FC Romania (3) 4 (Nosike 15, Coker 37, 45, Stylianides 90+5)
1.Elgi Fejzo, 2. Zivonimir Lopes, 3. William Danquah, 5. German Petrov, 15. Luke Abraham, 6. Phil Lowen, 11. Malik Nosike, 9. Ivan Gyurov (19. Stefan Balev 69 mins), 7. Alie Bangura (16. Janoir Da Cruz 90+2 mins), 10. Zenon Stylianides, 8. Tobi Coker (17. Aryaneaj Tajbakhsh 84 mins). Subs not used: 12. Lubomir Georgiev, 18. Yashua Smith.
Leverstock Green FC (0) 1 (Stefanoaica 83)
1. Loris Marcimain, 2. Brad Robinson (15. Danny May 75 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Callum Neal, 5. Dan Weeks, 6. Nat Connolly (17. Freddie Newing 84 mins), 7. Luke Beckwith, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Chris Blunden (12. Toby Head 71 mins), 10. George Mitchell-Gears (16. Connor McGinty 78 mins), 11. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica. Sub not used: 14. Ryan Hennessy.