Leverstock Green continue to impress with their away form, as they notched a tenth win from their fourteen away fixtures so far. It required a stoppage time penalty to overcome Broadfields United in a tight and evenly-contested match played on the 3G pitch at Rayners Lane.

Fergus Moore’s side made a bright start to the game, with Elgeniy Daalberg having a solo run into the home box before shooting into the side netting in the second minute. On 11 minutes there was controversy as Rawn Seale ran onto a pass from Kian Wilkes and appeared to be taken out by keeper Matt Faley having knocked the ball past him, but the referee waved away shouts for a penalty.

The first half saw Leverstock playing some good football as they enjoyed more of the possession, but the final ball was lacking. Their best chance of the half came three minutes before the break as Daalberg was played clean through on goal, but shot wide of the target. At the other end Alfie Bonfield had little to do other than save a shot from former Green player Billy Smith midway through the half.

The second half was similarly short on chances early on, although this time it was the home side who had more of the possession. On 57 minutes they had a shot from a narrow angle into the side netting, and three minutes later Sean Peter had a clear shooting chance but ballooned his shot over the bar. On 66 minutes Bonfield came off his line to charge down a shot from Rico Clarke-Rowe.

Leverstock then had a couple of chances, with Daalberg having a shot from a narrow angle turned round the post by Faley on 69 minutes, and four minutes later Seale played a pass to put Wilkes through, but his early shot was straight at Faley.

Broadfields had their best chance in the 86th minute as a fierce shot from Eric Lopes got past Bonfield but was cleared off the line by man-of-the-match Jack Allen. In the 89th minute Leverstock had their best effort of the game so far as a well-struck shot from Ryan Carruthers was turned round the post by Faley. In the first minute of stoppage time Wilkes had another long-range effort which went just wide.

It looked like the game was going to end in a stalemate, but deeper into stoppage time Dan Pett was threatening inside the Broadfields box, and as he tried to go round a defender his leg was taken away from him. This time the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot, and Pett stepped up to take the spot kick himself, netting it to win the game in the third minute of stoppage time.

It was tough on Broadfields who had the better of the second half, but Leverstock got the reward for a strong defensive display and a clean sheet. It was a crucial three points for the Green side as they now face three of the four sides above them in their next three matches.

Broadfields United (0) 0
Team: 1. Matt Faley, 2. Sam Blennerhassett, 3. Billy Smith (14. Francis Tango 68 mins), 4. Rhys Ellis, 5. Connor Maher (16. Aldis Aliu 68 mins), 6. Jonny Wilson, 7. Stevie Ward (17. Jamie Davey 85 mins), 8. Adrian Dubovecky, 9. Sean Peter, 10. Rico Clarke-Rowe, 11. Eric Lopes. Subs not used: 12. Rob Blennerhassett, 15. Darren Brown.
Leverstock Green (0) 1 (Pett 90+3 pen)
Team: 1. Alfie Bonfield, 2. Adrian Pitfield (16. Paul Marks 88 mins), 3. Rio Beach, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Jack Allen, 6. Kian Wilkes, 7. Elgeniy Daalberg, 8. Dan Pett, 9. Rawn Seale, 10. Ryan Carruthers, 11. Ollie Cox (14. Ollie Lawford 64 mins). Subs not used: 12. Jamie Calvin, 17. Scott McGleish, 18. Fergus Moore.