Match Report
Tuesday 1st April 2014 St Mary's Cup Quarter-Final
Leverstock Green (2) 2 B.Smith 28, Hind 45
Sun Postal Sports (0) 0
at Pancake Lane

Leverstock Green put Saturday's result at St Margaretsbury behind them as they produced an excellent performance to beat Sun Postal Sports and reach the semi-finals of the St Mary's Cup.

With Sun sitting at the top of SSML Division One, and fielding a side featuring a number of ex-Leverstock players, including five-times top scorer Jimmy Armstrong, a tough encounter was expected. However, the Green side looked a class above their opponents, as they played some good football, nobody more than Damion Cruickshank, who made a welcome return to the side after five games out injured.

The game was evenly-contested in the early stages. In the 8th minute an ill-advised back header from Gavin Smith almost let Armstrong in with a chance, but Garry Malone was quickly off his line to dive and claim the ball at Armstrong's feet. Within seconds at the other end a long-range effort from Liam Hind brought a good save out of Sun keeper Andy Hopping, who also blocked the follow-up effort from Billy Smith.

On 14 minutes there was more good work from Armstrong, as he got to the bye-line and delivered a cross which found Dan Tomkins at the far post, but Malone did well to keep Tomkins' header out.

The scoring was opened in the 28th minute, and it was an unfortunate mistake by Sun defender Edwin Twesicomwe, who lost the ball and left Billy Smith with a clear run at goal, and Smith made no mistake as he drove in a shot from a narrow angle in off the far post for a 1-0 lead.

It was almost 2-0 a minute before half-time when a great strike from Callum Wright cannoned off the crossbar, with the rebound just eluding Billy Smith despite his attempt at an acrobatic backflip. However, the Green only had to wait another minute to extend their lead. Mark Shadbolt lofted in a cross from the halfway line, and Liam Hind got in ahead of a defender and took the ball round Hopping before slotting in the second goal.

Hopping had to leave the game at half time with a hamstring injury, requiring outfield player Colin Wilson to play in goal for Sun during the second half, but Wilson was not seriously tested during a second half that was something of a non-event. Leverstock defended comfortably, as Malone was equally untested during the second half, but they were unable to create any more chances.

Leverstock face a tough match on Saturday at home to title favourites Hanwell Town.

Leverstock Green: 1. Garry Malone, 2. Damion Cruickshank, 3. Liam O'Keefe, 4. Mark Shadbolt, 5. Gavin Smith, 6. Lee Gardner, 7. Billy Smith (15. Dan Lake 83 mins), 8. Mark Woolley, 9. Callum Wright (14. Shakir Agada 88 mins), 10. Liam Hind (17. Harry Henley 90+3 mins), 11. Dene Gardner. Subs not used: 12. Prince Alozie, 16. Kieron Jimmy.
Sun Postal Sports: 1. Andy Hopping (12. Nathan Kelly H/T), 2. Gary Wallace, 3. Dan Weeks, 4. Edwin Twesicomwe, 5. Scott Bonner, 6. Steve Noonan (15. Max Moore 73 mins), 7. Ashley Lewis, 8. Colin Wilson, 9. Jimmy Armstrong, 10. Omar Vassell, 11. Dan Tomkins. Sub not used: 14. Paul Hobbs.