Leverstock Green suffered a rare defeat as their challenge for the Premier Division Cup ended at the second round stage. Although Green led at half time, they can have few complaints about the result, as Edgware had most of the possession and the chances, and eventually fought back to snatch the game in the dying minutes.

 

With James Dewick unavailable for tonight’s game, former Green keeper Derek Lewis was brought in on loan from Hillingdon Borough to become Leverstock’s eighth keeper of the season. For much of the first half, Edgware kept Green penned in their own half, although Lewis was not called on to make a serious save until Richard Morton’s shot in the 31^st minute.

 

Green’s attacks were sporadic, and it was very much against the run of play when they took the lead in the 40^th minute. Adam Hallissey showed determination as he shrugged off a defender to chase a through ball. Edgware keeper Rob Blackburne tried to claim the ball, but never quite got possession of it, and Allan Arthur dug out the loose ball and turned it into the empty net. Edgware went close to equalising two minutes later from Phil Cane’s rasping shot, but Lewis did well to tip it over the bar. In first half stoppage time James Armstrong got on the end of Mark Welling’s cross with an acrobatic volley, but Blackburne saved.

 

Edgware continued to enjoy much the greater share of possession in the second half, but on the few occasions their shooting wasn’t wayward, Lewis kept them out. However, in the 68^th minute John Pedder slid in to stop an attacker darting into the box, but took the man rather than the ball. The referee pointed straight to the penalty spot, and Lee Gardner sent Lewis the wrong way to level the scores.

 

Green fought back in what was their best spell of the match. Three minutes later Armstrong went on a run before threading the ball through to Arthur, who twisted and turned as he tried to go round Blackburne, but the keeper still got in a hand to parry Arthur’s shot, and his effort on the rebound was cleared off the line by a defender. Ten minutes from time Blackburne did even better as Louis West got on the end of Pedder’s cross with a bullet header, but Blackburne stuck out a hand to turn it over the bar.

 

Edgware should have gone in front in the 86^th minute when Gavin Hart set up Adam Wallace with a chance six yards out, but he ballooned it over the bar. However, a minute from time Wallace threaded a pass through to Phil Cane, and he slipped the ball past Lewis into the net to finally put his side ahead. Green threw everything forward in stoppage time, but Dale Sears’ shot which went just wide was the closest they came, and Green made an early exit from a competition in which they were beaten finalists last season.

 

Team: Lewis, Burr, Leslie, West, Price, Caseman, Pedder (Sangster), Welling (Sears), Hallissey (Barber), Arthur, Armstrong.