The spectators at Pancake Lane on Saturday saw a cracking opening game to open the SSML Premier Division season as Leverstock Green came from behind three times to claim a point against Cockfosters and could have won the game at the end.

Green boss Dene Gardner fielded a mixture of last season's players and new signings, but it was the visitors who came out of the blocks quicker as Adem Ali fired home a shot from the edge of the penalty area to put Cockfosters ahead with only three minutes on the clock.

However, Leverstock levelled the scores eight minutes later. New signing Paul Somers knocked the ball foward to Dan Lake, and received it back on the edge of the box to drill home a low shot into the corner of the net for an excellent goal on his debut.

For most of the game the two sides exchanged chances at each end. On 21 minutes a cross from former Green player Ben Hammond found the head of Lascelle Simone, but Kieran Jimmy saved, while a minute later at the other end Liam Hind headed just wide from Lake's corner. Cockfosters went back in front on 41 minutes when Isaac Carter-Allen headed home a cross from Luke Durnin, and could have gone further in front two minutes later but Jimmy saved well from Hammond's far post header.

Instead it was 2-2 on 44 minutes when Hind was fouled just outside the box, and got up to fire home the free kick himself. Hind was then involved at the other end, being penalised by the referee for having his arm round a Cockfosters player. The referee pointed to the spot and Durnin netted the penalty to send Cockfosters into the break with a 3-2 lead.

A half time change saw the injured Dean Kemp leave the game, to be replaced by forward David Sobers making his debut, while Hind went back to take Kemp's place at centre-half. The visitors had the better chances early in the second half. On 52 minutes Ali went on a run and hit a shot which Jimmy had to tip over the bar. Two minutes later Carter-Allen had a great shooting chance from six yards but Sledge Mubama slid in with a challenge which deflected the ball over the bar.

The Green survived the early pressure and levelled for a third time somewhat out of the blue on 59 minutes. Mubama hit a long-range shot which took a huge deflection and looped up and over the helpless keeper Sam Styles into the net.

On 65 minutes there was a chance for Leverstock as a back pass came up short and Sobers was in, but hit his shot straight at Styles. A minute later at the other end Durnin got inbetween two Green defenders to go clean through, but his shot was comfortably saved by Jimmy.

Chances continued to fall at both ends. On 79 minutes Callum Wright clipped a great ball through to Lake, but he couldn't quite connect with a shot. A minute later Carter-Allen got a glancing header onto Hammond's cross, but not enough to divert it into the net, and soon after Durnin struck the bar with a shot from the edge of the box.

In the closing minutes it was Leverstock who were looking the stronger side. On 82 minutes Wright got on the end of a cross from Somers but his header was saved by Styles. Four minutes later Mark Shadbolt delivered a superb cross to the far post where Lake looked certain to score, but didn't connect properly and hit it straight at Styles. Two minutes from time a lob from substitute Louis Bircham went just over the bar.

In the end the draw was a fair result from a highly enjoyable game. Leverstock will hope to continue this performance into their second game, which is away at Holmer Green on Tuesday night.