Leverstock Green's winning run in the league came to an end, and as with Saturday's Vase exit, they paid the price for conceding early goals as Stotfold ran up a three-goal half-time lead which proved too much of a mountain to climb despite a much-improved second half.

Steve Benitez was missing two of his key players, with Ben Gill absent through illness and Tobi Akin serving the first of a three-game suspension for his red card at Colney Heath. On the plus side there was a debut for 22-year old Spaniard Adrian Costa, whose performance was one of the bright spots of the night.

Stotfold were in front in the 7th minute as they made the most of a quickly-taken free kick. The Green defence was not alert enough as Harry Holland knocked it to Lee Pateman, who found Paul Garrett coming in on the overlap unmarked, and Garrett smashed a shot past Tom Coulton to open the scoring.

The lead was doubled five minutes later as Leverstock were caught out by a quick break. Holland crossed to Garrett, who came in again unmarked at virtually the same place as before and fired home a similarly venomous shot.

There might have been a third goal on 16 minutes when Myles Lee got on the end of a free kick but headed just wide. At the other end there were signs of promise as Leverstock began to pass the ball around well. On 20 minutes Kris Tyrell exchanged passes with James Dabbs before crossing to Adam Hallissey, who with his back to goal tried to backheel the ball in, but it was blocked. A minute later Costa played a great ball to put Ross Miller in on goal, but he shot wide.

On 30 minutes Curt Dizon showed some nice footwork along the bye-line before pulling the ball back, but the ball came too quickly to Marvin Tabi, who couldn't control his effort on goal. Just when the Green seemed to have stabilised, they were hit by another goal four minutes before the break. Stotfold cut far too easily through the defence from a free kick on the halfway line, and the ball ran through to Holland, who slotted it past Coulton. Even then the ball should have been cleared off the line, but wasn't.

After a couple of substitutions the Leverstock side looked a much better proposition in the second half. They continued to play their football, and the only thing missing was a cutting edge in the penalty area. Stefan Owen-Edwards had a shot saved in the opening minute of the half, and on 53 minutes Miller released Adiel Mannion down the right to put in a great cross which was crying out for someone to come in at the far post, but there was nobody there.

Finally on 72 minutes the Green got the goal back they deserved. Adrian Costa received the ball from a free kick by the right touchline and controlled it before firing home a shot from six yards. Costa has been kicking his heels for a few weeks as the club waited for international clearance to come through from the FA, and his debut was worth the wait as he looked quick on his feet and distributed the ball around well.

For the last 20 minutes it was Leverstock who were playing all the football, and with a bit of luck from one of the many crosses that came in they may have got back into the game. They currently have the curious record of having won all four of their away league games but lost both their home games. They will have to sort out their home form quickly, as this one was the first of a run of five straight home league games.

With the side playing a different style of football this season under Benitez, there was always going to be a learning curve involved. Hopefully a few lessons will have been learned from tonight's game and put into practice before Saturday's match against London Colney.