Leverstock Green celebrated the opening of their new £90,000 dressing rooms with another impressive three points that keeps them locked at the top of the table with Hertford and Edgware. Harefield were just a point behind at the start of play, but Allan Arthur’s winner two minutes from time was enough to win a very tight and evenly-contested game in which both sides had chances to win.
Leverstock welcomed back keeper James Dewick for his first appearance since injuring himself in the warmup for the opening league match nine weeks ago. His comeback was perfectly timed, since Mark Davidson was beginning a three-match suspension.
There were few chances as the two sides cancelled each other out in the early stages. On 22 minutes Dewick had to palm away a dangerous cross from Sean Sonner, and four minutes later Dewick was quick off his line to dive at the feet of Danny Jordan after Paul Haines’ pass had put him through.
Harefield keeper Steve Flower wasn’t tested until 35 minutes when James Armstrong floated in a free kick which was intended as a cross, but ended up heading for the top corner until Flower tipped it over. From the resulting corner Dale Sears headed across the face of goal from a good opportunity. In the last minute of the half, Darren Caseman’s shot from a narrow angle was turned round the post by Flower, and Arthur headed just over at the near post from the resulting corner.
The early stages of the second half belonged to Harefield as they played some neat football to slice through the Green defence on numerous occasions. On 57 minutes Dewick saved a close-range effort from Jordan, and a minute later Haines was put clean through, but Chris Burr chased back to put in a great saving tackle. Soon after, Dewick saved from Haines in a one-on-one situation. A poor throw from Dewick led to another clear chance for Adam Willis, but he pulled his shot wide.
Adam Hallissey came off the bench on 65 minutes, and five minutes later hit a shot which Flower couldn’t hold onto, but he just managed to grab the loose ball as Arthur closed in to finish. Armstrong had a quiet game, and was replaced by Josh Price 12 minutes from time.
On 81 minutes Green had their best chance of the game. Arthur’s pass put in man-of-the-match Caseman to send over a cross which found Hallissey unmarked inside the six-yard box, but the youngster failed to make proper contact with his header and only diverted it wide. Six minutes later there was another great chance. Hallissey broke clear, and played a square pass which went through a defender’s legs to leave Caseman with only Flower to beat. Caseman composed himself for the shot, but the delay allowed Joe Cowan to get in a great blocking tackle.
It looked as though Green were going to draw a blank for the first time this season, but in the 88th minute they won a corner. Price’s initial cross was headed clear, but only back to Price, who this time floated the perfect cross to the far post, where Arthur came in to head home the goal that broke the deadlock and sent the home support into jubilation. Dewick produced another crucial save from Sonner in the third minute of stoppage time to preserve Leverstock’s lead, and soon after the final whistle confirmed their fifth straight win.
Team: Dewick, Burr, Leslie, West, Johnson, Caseman, Sears (Hallissey), Welling (Pedder), Sangster, Arthur, Armstrong (Price).