Match Report
Saturday 13th August 2011 Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Leverstock Green (2) 3 Stobbs 14, Hallissey 20, Pritchard 88
Hillingdon Borough (1) 1 J.Willis 45+1
at Pancake Lane

Leverstock Green got their 2011/12 SSML Premier Division campaign off to a great start with three points from the opening game against Hillingdon Borough. A late goal from Lewis Pritchard ensured the victory after the visitors had staged a spirited comeback in the second half.

Hillingdon made the better start and played some nice football, but didn't go close to scoring until the 12th minute when a rasping shot from former Green player Karl Bull forced Carl Tasker into a great save.

However, it was Leverstock who opened the scoring in the 14th minute. A corner from Lee Bircham found its way to Lee Stobbs on the far side of the penalty area, and Stobbs opened the season's account with a delightful chip which curled out of the reach of keeper Sam Beagle and into the top corner of the net.

Six minutes later Bircham swung in a corner from the other side which this time found Craig Preston on the far side of the box, and Preston's header across goal was nodded home by Adam Hallissey for a 2-0 lead.

It could have been three a minute later when Pritchard burst through on goal, but Beagle spread himself to turn the shot wide. Pritchard was through again on 34 minutes but shot just over the bar. A minute before the break Tasker preserved the two-goal lead, saving with his body from Michalis Livesey, but in stoppage time Jordan Willis hit a shot through a crowd of players which may have taken a deflection on its way into the net, and Hillingdon were back in the game at 2-1.

The second half saw the visitors looking much the better side and playing all the football. Just before the hour Adam Willis put Livesey through on goal, but he shot wide. The Green defence stood up well against a frequent series of attacks, and was boosted 15 minutes from time by the addition of Lee Johnson, the veteran centre-back coming off the bench to mark his return to Pancake Lane.

Hillingdon's best chance came on 78 minutes, a great turn inside the box by Willis leaving him with only Tasker to beat, but the Green keeper saved with his legs.

The Leverstock side which had spent most of the half on the back foot finally got forward over the closing minutes. On 86 minutes Pritchard laid off to put Paul Insley through on goal. The youngster tried to take the ball wide of Beagle, but the keeper saved his shot and recovered to grab the rebound from Insley's feet. Two minutes later Glenn Thompson hit a shot from the edge of the box which deflected off a defender's legs. The rebound fell nicely for Pritchard, who slotted the ball home first time for the goal which clinched a 3-1 win.

It wasn't a classic Leverstock performance, but with several first-choice players sidelined with injury or suspension, Steve Heath will be happy with the depth of his squad at this stage of the season. Next up for the Green is a visit to Hertford Town on Tuesday night.

Match Images (click on picture to see full-size)
Leverstock Green: 1. Carl Tasker, 2. Lee Bircham, 3. Mark Shadbolt, 4. Craig Preston, 5. Louis West, 6. Lee Stobbs (16. Bekim Culaj 84 mins), 7. Adam Hallissey, 8. Glenn Thompson, 9. Joel Norris (14. Paul Insley 60 mins), 10. Louis Austin (12. Lee Johnson 75 mins), 11. Lewis Pritchard. Subs not used: 15. Chris Cutler, 17. Gareth Tinsley.
Hillingdon Borough: 1. Sam Beagle, 2. Jordan Willis, 3. Chris Baah, 4. Lukle Eldridge, 5. Tom Kirk, 6. Luke Willis, 7. Karl Bull, 8. Adam Willis, 9. Michalis Livesey (16. Paul Haynes 80 mins), 10. Jack Buckle, 11. Ben Dyett. Subs not used: 12. Sam Stanton, 14. Jermain Queensboro, 15. Steve Lawrence.