Report by Peter Berman

Leverstock Green's U18s got their FA Youth Cup campaign off to a brilliant start on Wednesday night, easily seeing off a North Greenford side that had been in strong form going into this game.

After a highly physical opening few minutes, Levy Green's Billy Gardner broke the deadlock with a wonderful 40-yard strike. With the wind in their sails, Levy began to take control of the game, slowly increasing a grip that their opponents would never manage to weaken. Therefore it was no surprise when Alfie Boswell doubled their lead with 37 minutes on the clock.

On another day Green could have been 4-0 up by half time. After 40 minutes Harry Gilbert headed the ball over the bar, before Levy had a strong penalty shout deep into first half stoppage time. Luke Warner-Eley was at the centre of the move that caused it. He easily wrong footed Greenford defender Ryan McAteer with some lovely play, but his shot was blocked almost on the line by James Salma in what was an apparent handball, but no penalty was given. Instead it was a corner, and as it was cleared the ref blew his whistle for half time.

Green came bursting out of the blocks in the second half, and again it was Warner-Eley who caused it, firing past Aaron Roberts to make it 3-0. For the first time since conceding, North Greenford really started to press, throwing more players forward with every attack. They could have pulled one back in the 50th minute, but Baleja Mpiama failed to find the target with his header.

Nevertheless, Levy too were still attacking. Warner-Eley found Casey Linsell in space, and Roberts had to pull off a double save to stop Green's lead from increasing, before Warner-Eley himself was in a few minutes later, but the shot went over the bar.

The seemingly inevitable fourth goal came in the 65th minute. The ref gave a penalty for a clear foul on Warner-Eley by Roberts. The striker stepped up to take it himself, but the keeper was able to parry the ball away, albeit only was far as the head of Boswell, who put it in the back of the net.

What followed was a period of almost one way traffic in Green's favour, though the hosts still had their chances. The impressive Glorie Gilbert produced a nice turn and shot in the 74th minute, but Mark Berg stayed alert and was there when it mattered to deny him. They could have got one back four minutes later too. Jatinder Sohal was in, but somehow failed to even force a save. Gilbert wasn't done yet though, and attempted the shot that Gardner had scored with earlier in the game, but failed to make count and the ball bounced wide.

Deep into stoppage time, the game's final goal came, as again a penalty was given, this time for handball. Luke Preedy stepped up to round out the scoring, seeing Leverstock Green deservedly progress to the next round, where they will be away to Northwood.

Leverstock Green U18s are back in action on Wednesday 1st October, when they are away to Tring Athletic.