Match Report
Tuesday 1st February 2011 Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Langford (0) 0
Leverstock Green (1) 4 Pritchard 17, 90+5, West 66, Culaj 86
at Forde Park

Leverstock Green continued to bang in the goals as their amazing run of form continued in Tuesday night's SSML Premier Division game at Langford.

With two midweek games to cope with this week, Steve Heath again used the full resources of his squad to allow some players a rest, but tonight's side still had enough to overcome the division's bottom side, and it was an excellent all-round display by the team.

It could have been a different story, as Langford had the ball in the net within three minutes of the start, but it was disallowed for a handball in the build-up. Instead it was Leverstock who took the lead in the 17th minute. Bekim Culaj made a run down the right wing before sending over a low cross from near the corner flag. Langford defender Ryan Nicholl swung at the ball, but missed it, leaving Lewis Pritchard all alone at the far post to shoot home from a couple of yards out.

The lead was almost doubled on 23 minutes when Louis Austin struck a fierce shot from the edge of the box, but it hit the bar. On 29 minutes Louis West kept the lead intact when he headed off the line to prevent Tunde Anderonmu from heading home a free kick.

Leverstock went into the break 1-0 up, and five minutes into the second half they made their first change when Ben Butler replaced the injured Charlie Gorman. On the hour Langford had a great chance to equalise when Anderonmu got to the bye-line and pulled back a cross which found Nicholl in front of goal, but he sliced his shot wide.

Three minutes later the Green were denied a second goal as Bill Morgan's header from Butler's corner was tipped over the bar by the keeper. However, on 66 minutes another corner from Butler was missed by the defenders at the near post, and found its way to West, who shot home for a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Fahy was close to adding a third on 70 minutes after a great set up from Pritchard, but his shot went just wide. Three minutes later Leverstock put together their best move of the match as Dan Boyle sent Culaj away down the right and he put over a great cross, but Austin's diving header went across goal and just wide of the post.

Ten minutes from time Langford had a chance to get back in the game when Anderonmu took on Morgan inside the box and drew a foul from the Green captain. The referee awarded the penalty, but Paul Donnelly blasted it straight down the middle and Carl Tasker deflected it over the bar with his legs.

Four minutes from time Leverstock put together another nice move, and Pritchard found Steve Hutchins on the far side of the box with a chance to shoot, but instead Hutchins squared to set up Culaj, who sidefooted home a well-deserved goal from the edge of the box. That goal was the Green's 100th goal in all competitions this season, a remarkable record from 37 games (23 league games, 14 cup games).

The game was already over, but there was more icing on the cake with a fourth goal deep into stoppage time. A cross from Culaj found Pritchard with a header at the far post. Craig Preston followed in to make sure, but the ball had already crossed the line before Preston made contact, so the goal went down to Pritchard.

There is no time to rest for Heath's side, with a Premier Division Cup quarter-final at home to Stotfold on Thursday night before a league match at Haringey Borough on Saturday.

Langford: 1. Scott Waters, 2. Ryan Nicholl (12. Carl Albone 71 mins), 3. Paul Donnelly, 4. Connor DeLacey, 5. Casey Walker, 6. Luke Nicholl, 7. Luke Sharples, 8. Shane Brown, 9. Tunde Anderonmu, 10. Theo Swain, 11. Dean Auburn (14. Michael Leon 45 mins). Sub not used: 15. Paul Donald.
Leverstock Green: 1. Carl Tasker, 2. Dan Boyle, 3. Jon Davies, 4. Louis West, 5. Bill Morgan, 6. Ryan Fahy, 7. Bekim Culaj, 8. Steve Hutchins, 9. Louis Austin (15. Craig Preston 83 mins), 10. Charlie Gorman (12. Ben Butler 50 mins), 11. Lewis Pritchard. Subs not used: 14. Lee Bircham, 16. Gareth Tinsley.