Leverstock Green's reserve side suffered a heartbreaking last-gasp defeat as Northwood scored a winner deep into stoppage time in Saturday's Suburban League North Division fixture.

The Leverstock side enjoyed a good first half in which they created a number of good chances. In the 5th minute a great cross from Ricardo Ramos was met by Ryan Upton, who headed wide. In the 11th minute a cross from Gareth Long just eluded the diving Upton and Lewis Craze couldn't force the ball home at the far post.

On 21 minutes a rasping shot from Long was turned round the post by the keeper, while two minutes later Green keeper Jordan I'Anson had to make his first save, turning round an equally fierce shot from Jamie McKay.

Leverstock had another chance in the 36th minute when Upton's pass put Ramos through, only to shoot wide. However, three minutes later a slip from a defender allowed Luis Almeida to play the ball through to Craze, who went round the keeper and slotted home to put the Green into a deserved 1-0 lead, which they held until the break.

The second half saw the home side start to put the pressure on. I'Anson made a great save from Alex Delasalle on 65 minutes to preserve his side's lead, however on 71 minutes Leverstock shot themselves in the foot by giving the ball away in their own half. Tobias Schweizer was left clean through, and although I'Anson got a block on his shot, it wasn't enough to stop it rolling into the net.

Leverstock substitute Dujon Desgurante had a run at goal on 79 minutes, but his shot was deflected over the bar. Two minutes later Northwood almost went in front when their substitute Liam Baker went on a run, but his shot rattled the bar before going over.

Northwood began to create more chances against a tiring Green side, but I'Anson was doing his best to keep them out, despite playing with a hamstring injury in the second half. However, in the 90th minute one of his own defenders headed the ball over him, and I'Anson instinctively raised his arms to stop it. Unfortunately he was just outside the penalty area, so the referee had no option but to show him a red card for handball.

Player/manager Dwaine Bryan took over between the sticks for stoppage time, and Leverstock had a chance to win it when Ramos was clean through, but a defender got back to tackle just as he was about to shoot. Leverstock had certainly done enough to merit a point, but they were denied even that when the game went into a seventh minute of stoppage time and Michael Elderfield drilled home a shot from a narrow angle to snatch a 2-1 win for Northwood.

It was a first defeat in ten games for Leverstock, and they now face two cup ties in the next week. On Tuesday night they are at home to Chipperfield Corinthians Reserves in the Herts Intermediate Cup third round, and next Saturday they are at home to Uxbridge in the third round of the Suburban League Cup.