SMID2006 - Match Report 2009

Leverstock Green kept up their challenge at the top end of the Premier Division with a hard-fought win at Kingsbury London Tigers, and gained some revenge against the side that ended Green’s unbeaten league record back in November. Like the previous two games, this match suffered from extreme weather conditions, this time strong winds, but the two sides put on an entertaining match with plenty of chances at both ends.

Green generally had the better of things in the early stages, but it was the home side who took the lead against the run of play in the 22nd minute. A pull-back from the goal-line found Hardy Moreitz inside the penalty area, and he turned and smashed home a fierce shot past Derek Lewis for the opening goal.

However, Leverstock hit back with a sustained period of pressure. In the 28th minute Josh Price struck a tremendous free kick from 30 yards which looked to be heading for the top corner until Tigers keeper Randes Nunes somehow got a hand to it to tip it over the bar. Price took the resulting corner, and found the head of Lee Johnson, but Alkeshief Elterifi cleared off the line. Johnson again got the end of Price’s next corner, but headed over the bar. On 31 minutes Darren Caseman ran onto a pass from James Armstrong and hit a shot across goal which went inches wide of the far post.

Despite their efforts Green still trailed, and almost went further behind on 38 minutes when Pardal Kavassankar struck an excellent free kick which Lewis had to dive full length to turn round the post. However, two goals in two minutes turned the match in Green’s favour. On 41 minutes Armstrong’s cross from the right touchline was met by Ryan Upton with a superb volley on the turn that beat Nunes and found the corner of the net for the equaliser. Just over a minute later Green won a free kick near the halfway line. Price floated in a high ball which caught in the wind and completely deceived Nunes, allowing Paul Matthews to head in from close range and put Green in front.

Kingsbury almost struck back before the break when Moreitz hit another impressive shot from distance that rattled the crossbar, and Armstrong twice went close to increasing Green’s lead in stoppage time.

In the second half Green had the wind and the slope in their favour, and should have made the game safe in the opening minute. A mistake from defender Diamontino So Jalo left Upton clean through, only for So Jalo to chase back and bring down Upton as he was about to shoot. The referee awarded the penalty, but Armstrong’s spot-kick was saved by Nunes, and neither Armstrong nor John Pedder could turn in the rebound.

To their credit, Kingsbury refused to lie down, and actually had the better chances in the second half. On 52 minutes another long-range bullet from Moreitz went just over the bar. On 64 minutes a poor clearance from Matthews fell to Jamalur Rahman on the edge of the box, but Lewis pulled off a tremendous save to keep out his shot. Two minutes later a slip by Price left Rahman clean through, but again Lewis was the hero as he came off his line to save at Rahman’s feet. Green often threatened on the break, but their crosses rarely found their intended target due to the wind. By the end Green were hanging on, but they held out successfully for another three points which maintains their second place in the table.