Match Report
Saturday 15th January 2011 Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Leverstock Green (3) 6 Hallissey 11, 90+2, Morgan 32, Butler 35, Bircham 47 pen, Stobbs 61
Kentish Town (0) 0
at Pancake Lane

After another weather-enforced break, Leverstock Green returned to action with a vengeance, as they hit six goals past Kentish Town in today's SSML Premier Division game at Pancake Lane. Five different players found the net as Green avenged the 1-0 defeat to Kentish at Coles Park earlier in the season.

The result was achieved without top scorer Louis Austin, who stayed on the bench throughout with next week's FA Vase tie in mind, and Charlie Gorman, who was serving a one-match suspension.

The opening goal came in the 11th minute. Lee Bircham floated a corner to the far post, which Bill Morgan met with a firm header. Kentish keeper Joel Thomas couldn't hold onto it, and the ball fell at the feet of Adam Hallissey, who netted from very close range.

Morgan went close again on 27 minutes from another Bircham corner, his sidefooted effort going across goal and just wide. However, on 32 minutes there appeared little danger as Morgan had the ball 35 yards out by the left touchline, but his floated cross found Thomas stranded as the ball flew over his head directly into the top corner of the net - a remarkable and rare goal for the big Green defender putting his side 2-0 up.

Three minutes later it was 3-0 as a free kick was laid back to Ben Butler on the edge of the penalty area, and his low shot beat Thomas and found the corner of the net.

Green were 3-0 up and coasting at half time, and the second half was barely over a minute old when they added another. Hallissey's run into the box ended when he was felled by defender Gavin Austin, and Bircham netted from the penalty spot for his 10th goal of the season and a 4-0 lead.

Two minutes later Carl Tasker had to tip over a shot from Karl Lewis, as Kentish had their first effort on goal of the game. They went close again on 57 minutes as Phillip Ankrah showed some nice footwork in the box, but shot into the side netting. However, they found themselves further behind on 61 minutes to the best goal of the game. Lewis Pritchard made a run down the right and put over a cross which found Lee Stobbs on the far side of the penalty area, and Stobbs produced a fantastic finish as he delicately curled the ball into the top corner of the net out of the despairing reach of Thomas.

Midway through the half Tasker was given a rest as Gareth Tinsley replaced him in goal. Green could have added further goals as both Pritchard and Butler went close, but the sixth goal didn't come until the second minute of stoppage time. Pritchard broke away, and Thomas did well to save his shot, but Hallissey was there again to pick up the pieces as he slotted home the rebound for what was Leverstock's 91st goal of the season in all competitions.

Green manager Steve Heath would no doubt have been pleased by the routine nature of this win, but still has another match to negotiate before the biggest match in the club's history next Saturday. On Tuesday night Leverstock make another attempt to play the Herts Senior Cup 2nd Round tie at St Margaretsbury, then Bemerton Heath Harlequins visit Pancake Lane in the FA Vase 4th Round - the first time the Green have ever reached this stage of the competition.

Match Images (click on picture to see full-size)
Leverstock Green: 1. Carl Tasker (15. Gareth Tinsley 66 mins), 2. Lee Bircham, 3. Mark Shadbolt (14. Dan Boyle 55 mins), 4. Steve Hatch, 5. Bill Morgan, 6. Lee Stobbs, 7. Dan Griggs, 8. Craig Preston, 9. Lewis Pritchard, 10. Ben Butler, 11. Adam Hallissey. Sub not used: 12. Louis Austin.
Kentish Town: 1. Joel Thomas, 2. Kesi Dryden, 3. Raffa Kaphouris, 4. Aaron Clarke, 5. Gavin Austin, 6. Charlie Kanaris, 7. Jordan McFarlane (12. Otis Kingsley 71 mins), 8. Leon Rolle (14. Kevin Grzabka 71 mins), 9. Phillip Ankrah, 10. Joe O'Connor, 11. Karl Lewis. Subs not used: 16. Sean Creith, 17. Luke Morgan.