Leverstock Green made a bright start in their visit to playoff-chasing Flackwell Heath on Saturday, but an early red card made the game much tougher and eventually the home side came through to beat Leverstock’s ten men.

There were a few key players missing from the Leverstock side, including Jeffrey Sekyere, who had been recalled by Wealdstone, but deadline day signings Tomasz Siemienczuk and Aaron Burton were both in the starting lineup.

It was Burton, signed on work experience from Watford, who got Leverstock off to a great start with a goal on his debut in the 4th minute. After Dan Pett’s free kick into the box was not cleared, Burton hit a shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection and looped over the keeper into the net.

However, four minutes later Leverstock’s ranks were reduced. Wiktor Makowski took advantage of a short goal kick to go through on goal. Ademide Baruwa’s challenge from behind brought Makowski down just outside the box, and although there were possibly two covering defenders, Baruwa was shown a red card.

Leverstock could have had a penalty shortly afterwards when Siemienczuk appeared to be fouled in the box, but the referee gave a free kick the other way. Leverstock defended well to maintain their lead until the 30th minute, when Jack Shakespeare hit a fierce shot from outside the box which gave Ryan North no chance and levelled the scores.

Flackwell could have gone in front three minutes before the break when Edward Lee was through on goal, but his shot hit the post and the rebound went straight into North’s hands.

The scores were level going into the second half, but two early goals put the home side in the driving seat. In the 50th minute a cross to the far post found Lewis Patrick all alone to shoot Flackwell into the lead, and three minutes later Patrick found the net again, cutting in from the bye-line to hit a shot from a narrow angle which looped over North.

Leverstock had another penalty appeal for a clear handball turned down later in the half, but they were unable to create any chances to get back into the game, while some last-ditch interventions at the other end prevented Flackwell from adding to their score.

Leverstock now face Northwood at home in a crucial game on Tuesday night, with the three clubs competing for the one place of safety now separated by three points after today’s results.

Flackwell Heath (1) 3 (Shakespeare 30, Patrick 50, 53)
1. Carl Dennison, 2. Ryan Avery, 3. Lewis Patrick, 4. Callum Mapley, 5. Louis Bouwers, 6. Mark Nisbet (14. Louis Walsh 56 mins), 7. Jamie Ayres (16. Philip Pryor 84 mins), 8. Lewis Pegg (15. Ben Stallard 69 mins), 9. Wiktor Makowski (17. Dylan Kearney 76 mins), 10. Jack Shakespeare, 11. Edward Lee (12. Michael Harding 56 mins).
Leverstock Green (1) 1 (Burton 4)
1. Ryan North, 2. Nat Connolly, 3. Ademide Baruwa, 4. Dan Weeks, 5. Aaron Burton, 6. Ryan Carruthers (14. Antonio Edubatey 76 mins), 7. Ethan Mooney (16. Callum Neal 67 mins), 8. Dan Pett, 9. Tomasz Siemienczuk (17. Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica 71 mins), 10. Marcus Warren (12. Lewis Collins 58 mins), 11. Rawn Seale (15. Keanu Fleming 84 mins).