Match Report
Tuesday 1st September 2015 Premier Division Cup First Round
Tring Athletic (0) 0
Leverstock Green (1) 1 Donaldson 18
at Cow Lane

Leverstock Green got some revenge for being knocked out of the FA Cup by Tring Athletic as they earned a hard-fought 1-0 win in Tuesday night's Premier Division Cup tie at the Grass Roots Stadium. It was a game of many chances, but a single first half goal proved to be enough as Leverstock kept their first clean sheet of the season.

Timi Salako had the Green's first effort on goal with a shot just wide in the 6th minute, while at the other end Liam McDonagh had to save a fierce shot on 9 minutes and tip over a free kick from Paul Jeffrey two minutes later. Leverstock went close again in the 16th minute when Tring keeper Matt Evans could only palm a cross-cum-shot from Callum Wright into the air, but Chris Blunden couldn't get to the loose ball.

Two minutes later a pass from Damien Cruickshank put Curtis Donaldson through on goal. Donaldson scuffed his shot a little, but it still beat Evans, and although Tring defender Kevin McManus tried to get back and clear, he only succeeded in helping the ball over the line, with Blunden perhaps getting a touch as well.

It was almost 2-0 on 21 minutes when Wright ran onto a pass from Donaldson and tried to lob Evans but the keeper managed to grab the ball as it went over his head. Evans denied Wright again on 39 minutes, pulling off a superb save to tip his free kick over the bar and onto the roof of the net.

Tring were forced into a change just before the break, with forward Ollie Hogg having to be stretchered off after turning his ankle in an inocuous challenge.

Luke Preedy came close to adding a second Leverstock goal in the 58th minute as he skipped past two defenders in the box before hitting a shot that brushed the post and went wide.

With an hour played Tring brought on forwards Chris Vardy and Vinnie Iannone, and they had a 15 minute spell where they put the Green goal under heavy pressure, coming closest with a shot that hit the bar in the 69th minute.

However, Leverstock weathered the storm, and could have added further goals over the closing minutes. Jack Gilmartin had a shot turned round the post by Evans, and Wright and Donaldson both had shots just wide. In stoppage time Wright played a one-two with Louis Bircham but then shot into the side netting.

The win sets up a home tie for Leverstock in the second round against Bedford. This coming Saturday they return to league action with a home match against Colney Heath.
Tring Athletic: 1. Matt Evans, 2. Stuart Stedman, 3. Jamie Irons, 4. Dan Stedman, 5. Kevin McManus, 6. Chris Mason (15. Vinnie Iannone 59 mins), 7. Luke Dunston, 8. Jack Sunderland, 9. Bertie Squires-Adams (16. Chris Vardy 59 mins), 10. Ollie Hogg (14. Ryan Sturgess 45 mins), 11. Paul Jeffrey. Sub not used: 12. Ryan McMahon.
Leverstock Green: 1. Liam McDonagh, 2. Damien Cruickshank, 3. Jack Halcomb, 4. Gavin Smith, 5. James Budden, 6. Timi Salako (15. Tommy Walsh 73 mins), 7. Jack Gilmartin, 8. Curtis Donaldson, 9. Luke Preedy, 10. Chris Blunden (16. Louis Bircham 73 mins), 11. Callum Wright (14. Joe Horwood 90+2 mins). Sub not used: 12. Lee Faulkner.