Match Report
Tuesday 21st August 2012 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Haringey Borough (0) 0
Leverstock Green (0) 1 Miller 75
at Coles Park

Leverstock Green scored another confidence-boosting result as for the second successive Tuesday they returned from a difficult midweek trip with all three points.

Steve Benitez was missing several key players, and his side had a rocky start to the match. A heavy rainstorm that started at kick-off time didn't help, as it made the Coles Park pitch as slippery as an ice rink. Leverstock gave the ball away too often in their own half, but fortunately the home side did not have their shooting boots on as Roland Namquita shot wide in the 6th minute and Richard Worrell was wide of the mark ten minutes later from two of the best chances.

After 25 minutes on the back foot a solid ten minutes got Leverstock back into the game, and for all the attempts that Haringey had, the only shot on target in the first half came from the Green's Adam Hallissey, as his dipping long-range effort was tipped over the bar by home keeper Austin Byfield in the 32nd minute.

The second half was a much more even affair as Leverstock held onto the ball better and got their passing game going. Haringey continued to miss chances, with Rickelle Christian running into the box in the 47th minute but hitting his shot straight at Green keeper Tom Coulton. Tobi Akin had a good effort for the Green on 55 minutes which was just over the bar.

In the 64th minute Steve Benitez made his first change, bringing on the lanky Ioan Vranceanu for Akin, and Leverstock switched to a more direct game. It proved to be effective as the Green began to look the more likely side to score. A long-range effort from Hallissey on 71 minutes forced an unconventional save as Byfield turned it round the post with his foot.

In the 75th minute Leverstock won a free kick just inside the Haringey half. Ben Butler played the ball sideways to Marvin Tabi, who lofted a cross into the box. Byfield could only flap at the ball, and as it bounced around Ross Miller pounced to hook the ball into the unguarded net to put the Green into a 1-0 lead.

From then on it was a case of hanging on to the result. There was a moment of panic on 82 minutes when Coulton came out of his area to thwart an attack from Paul Yiannakas, only to be lobbed. Miller couldn't head the ball clear, and it dropped to Yiannakas again but he still managed to shoot wide with the net gaping. A minute from time Yiannakas was in again, and for the first time in the game Coulton was seriously tested, but the former Arsenal and Barnet youngster was equal to it as he dived low to his left to palm the ball away. Namquita, the tormentor of Leverstock last season, missed another great chance in stoppage time as he scuffed a shot from near the penalty spot.

Leverstock held out to claim a superb win, and it is clear that there is an impressive amount of team spirit in this Green side as they battled hard all night. On Saturday they are away again, travelling to Hanwell Town for another league game.

Match Images (click on picture to see full-size)
Haringey Borough: 1. Austin Byfield, 2. Rickelle Christian, 3. Vas Soteriou, 4. Lewis Laws, 5. Nick Nicou, 6. Andras Molnar, 7. Paul Yiannakas, 8. Steve Obeng, 9. Roland Namquita, 10. Richard Worrell (16. Dewayne Clarke 90 mins), 11. John Powles (12. Christian Bulembi 69 mins).
Leverstock Green: 1. Tom Coulton, 2. Ross Miller, 3. Mark Shadbolt, 4. Patrick Fromant, 5. Kris Tyrell, 6. Alfee Robbins, 7. Ben Butler, 8. James Dabbs, 9. Marvin Tabi (14. Adiel Mannion 79 mins), 10. Adam Hallissey, 11. Tobi Akin (15. Ioan Vranceanu 64 mins). Subs not used: 12. James Attfield, 16. Jon Davies.