Leverstock Green found the challenge of Ryman Premier Division side Boreham Wood too much for them as they exited the Herts Senior Cup at the second round stage, although Green gave a good account of themselves and worked hard throughout, against a strong side from two levels higher.

 

Boreham Wood attacked from the kick-off and could have scored in the opening twenty seconds when Lee Allinson put the ball across the face of goal and just over the head of Andre Delisser. However, Green began to cope with the pressure and allowed the visitors few chances until the 18^th minute when they gave the ball away in their own half. Delisser was sent clear down the left, and struck an angled shot past keeper Derek Lewis and in off the far post to put Wood into the lead.

 

Lewis did well to turn away a fierce shot from Delisser on 23 minutes, and Green had their first attempt on goal in the 27^th minute when Terry Chamberlin went on a mazy run into the run and had his shot blocked, and James Armstrong’s cross from the rebound went just over the angle. However, in the 38^th minute Green were emphatically punished for some defensive hesitancy when Allinson thumped home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area to put Wood 2-0 up.

 

Green continued to battle in the second half, and on 54 minutes a long throw into the box from Dale Sears dropped for Armstrong, who turned and hit a shot that was cleared off the line by Chris Watters. Boreham Wood had made a goalkeeping change at half time, and the replacement keeper Calum Hurton was at fault for the goal which put Green back in the game in the 59^th minute. Paul Leslie’s ball put Armstrong clear down the left, and he floated in a high cross which Hurton tried to catch, but fumbled. Allan Arthur pounced to stab home the loose ball and reduce the arrears to 2-1.

 

However, Wood restored their two-goal advantage on 66 minutes. Chris Bangura received a ball into the box with his back to goal, and he got the better of Josh Price to turn and fire home a shot past Lewis for 3-1. Green’s best chance of getting back into the game came on 78 minutes when Sears’ pass gave Armstrong a clear run on goal, but Hurton redeemed his earlier error by coming off his line to save.

 

Leverstock can now turn their attention to one of the biggest games in the club’s history, their FA Vase Third Round tie against Potton United on Satuday.

 

Team: Lewis, Price, Leslie (Welling), West, Johnson, Bull (Hallissey), Sears, Chamberlin, Armstrong, Arthur, Pedder (Caseman).