Leverstock Green have one fewer cup competition to worry about after they were knocked out of the Herts Senior Cup at St Margaretsbury last night. This was a very different Green side to the one that played in the Vase against Bemerton on Saturday, with only four players from that game featuring tonight, but this was still a very close encounter and Leverstock were left feeling aggrieved after a controversial end to the game.

There was a first team debut for reserve team top scorer Sam Flood, and also starts for youngsters Scott Gungadoo and Kris Tyrell.

After a quiet opening to the game, it was the home side who had the first effort on goal, a dipping shot from Joe Rudkin that Gareth Tinsley did well to tip over the bar on 24 minutes. Tinsley had to save again on 42 minutes as Charlie Edwards hit a long-range shot along the ground, and a minute later at the other end Flood hit a shot just wide after Lewis Pritchard flicked on a goal kick from Tinsley into his path.

The match went into the break goalless, but Leverstock had another near miss two minutes after the restart. Pritchard ran onto a lobbed pass from Ben Butler and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper, but it went just over the bar. In the 50th minute it was St Margaretsbury that made the breakthrough. Davey Edmee made a weaving run into the box before squaring the ball to set up Ricky Light, and he shot home past Tinsley to open the scoring.

On 66 minutes Leverstock were denied the first of two very good penalty claims. Gungadoo's ball over the top put Butler through on goal, until he was brought down by defender Tom Scriven. The referee adjudged the foul to be outside the box, and only showed Scriven a yellow card despite him being the last man. Steve Hutchins took the free kick but it was saved by keeper Alan Buck.

Ten minutes later Butler got on the end of a cross from Charlie Gorman with a diving header, but it went just wide. Towards the end of the game Green started to pile on the pressure. On 84 minutes Gorman hit a great effort from out near the touchline, but it was tipped over by Buck. A minute later Buck saved again when Pritchard was through.

In the last minute came the controversy, as Buck went to ground to gather the ball but clearly brought down Gorman before getting there. The referee waved away the penalty appeals, and a minute later at the other end awarded a penalty to St Margaretsbury when Dan Boyle brought down Light inside the box. Paul Evitt netted the spot kick to seal a 2-0 win for his side.

It is doubtful that Steve Heath will be too worried about losing this game with his side's impending fixture congestion, but the manner of the defeat prompted lengthy discussions with the referee at the end of the game.