Leverstock Green fell to a fourth straight league defeat, but today's scoreline was very harsh on Dan Manzi's side. This was a vastly improved performance on Tuesday night's display at Cockfosters and for much of the game it looked like Leverstock could come out of the game with a point from high-flying AFC Dunstable.

There were plenty of chances in the game for both sides, and Ashley Aimakhu had to clear off the line in the opening minute to prevent the hosts scoring. A minute later Stewart King turned on the pace and looked like running right through the AFC defence until a cynical challenge from Jack Lauder brought him down and earned the defender a yellow card.

AFC had a couple of near-misses from headers before taking the lead in the 19th minute. A cross to the far post from Jonathan Barnett allowed Kyle Lincoln to come in round the back of Mark Campbell and emphatically blast a shot past Green keeper Nigel Wharton, making his debut for the club.

However the Green side responded well and were back on level terms within two minutes. King made a darting run into the box and squared across goal to find Adiel Mannion, who coolly turned the ball past keeper Ryan Darby from six yards out.

Leverstock then had chances to take the lead. On 25 minutes Darby failed to cut out a cross from Mannion, but both Connor Deadman and Ben Edwards had their efforts from the loose ball blocked on the line. A pass from Alex Foster put King through on goal on 34 minutes, but he shot over the bar. King had an even better chance when he was clean through on 39 minutes and took the ball round Darby, but he delayed his shot too long and allowed Darby to get back and put in a challenge.

It was then Wharton's turn to shine in the final minutes of the half as he saved a shot from Richard Harker, and tipped a header from Craig Butler onto the bar as he looked certain to score.

The scores were level at the break, and there was an enforced change for Leverstock at half time with Jon Davies replacing the injured Mark Campbell. The Green were on the back foot early in the half, but were defending well. In the 57th minute they cleared two corners, but from the second one the ball came out to Courtney Massey, who struck an unstoppable shot from 25 yards to put his side back into the lead at 2-1.

Once again Leverstock responded well to going behind. Three minutes later Davies struck a free kick from distance that was heading for the bottom corner until Darby turned it round the post. From the resulting corner King struck the bar with a header, and from the rebound Ben Edwards' header was deflected onto the bar.

Leverstock were still very much in the game, until a third AFC goal on 68 minutes gave them a mountain to climb. Jonathan Cooper was allowed to run into the box, and his ball across goal was met by Richard Harker, who came in to stab the ball home.

The Green continued to battle, and went close to pulling a goal back on 82 minutes when Edwards turned inside the box and hit a shot which came back off the inside of the post. The scoreline was given a very flattering look for the hosts when Massey shot home in stoppage time for a 4-1 final score.

The next seven days brings two crucial fixtures for the Leverstock side. On Tuesday night they travel to Hillingdon Borough, looking for revenge for their FA Cup defeat a couple of weeks ago, in what might be called an early six-pointer. Next Saturday they travel to SSML Division One side Winslow United in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase.