Leverstock Green’s longest ever run in the FA Vase came to an end in the last 64, but it was more a case of highway robbery by visitors Potton United. Leverstock were the better side and had plenty of chances to win the game, but could not put the ball in the net, while Potton had one attempt on goal in the whole 90 minutes, which proved to be enough.

 

The first half saw both sides put in a lot of effort, but with little to show for it in the way of scoring chances. The visitors had only a wayward shot and header, neither of which troubled Green keeper James Dewick, whose only involvement was collecting an occasional cross. Leverstock had the ball in the net in the 20^th minute, but James Armstrong’s effort was ruled out by a clear offside decision. Two minutes before the break, Armstrong played a great crossfield pass to Adam Hallissey, who beat the last defender but didn’t get hold of his shot properly, and keeper Brad Gillham gathered it comfortably.

 

By way of contrast, the second half opened with a flurry of goalmouth action, all of it at the Potton end. In the second minute a pass from Allan Arthur and a slip by a defender left Armstrong clean through. Armstrong looked set to extend his record of scoring in every round, but Gillham’s boot deflected his shot wide. Two minutes later Green were threatening again. Arthur’s cross dropped invitingly for Armstrong, who lashed a fierce shot which rattled the crossbar. On 53 minutes Armstrong’s corner was punched away by Gillham as far as Hallissey on the edge of the box, but his shot was high and wide.

 

Potton offered no threat until 63 minutes when a late tackle by Paul Matthews conceded a free kick on the halfway line. The free kick was lofted into the penalty area, where Matthews headed away, but the ball was headed back across goal to Lee Allinson, who lashed a volley past Dewick to put Potton in front. Ironically, Allinson had also played and scored in the Boreham Wood side which beat Leverstock four days earlier in the Herts Senior Cup.

 

Green attacked straight from the restart and almost produced an instant response. A cross from Dale Sears found Armstrong six yards out, but Gillham produced a superb save with his legs to keep Armstrong’s shot out. Leverstock continued to press, and won a series of corners - in total 14 compared to Potton’s one - but could not force the ball home despite their largest crowd of the season, 130, urging them on.

 

In the last minute Sears had two shots blocked in a goalmouth scramble, and deep into stoppage time Gillham had to save on the line when another corner cannoned off one of his own defenders, but it was not to be Green’s day and the final whistle soon after confirmed their exit from the competition. They must now get their season back on track after three defeats in a week, starting with this Tuesday’s league visit to Biggleswade United.

 

Team: Dewick, Matthews, Leslie, West (Burr), Johnson, Sangster (Pedder), Sears, Welling (Price), Armstrong, Arthur, Hallissey.