Leverstock Green crashed out of another cup competition on Tuesday night as a couple of minutes of poor defending towards the end of the game turned a likely win into a defeat against Bedford F.C., whose squad was boosted by the addition of Tremayne Charles and Marcus Campbell from Bedford Town, two players who ultimately made the difference in the game.

The Green side made a great start to the game, with Curtis Donaldson crossing for Jack Gilmartin to head home the opening goal with less than two minutes on the clock. It could have been 2-0 on 11 minutes when Louis Bircham was clean through, but his shot slipped inches wide of the far post.

Instead, two minutes later the visitors had the chance to get back into the game when Jack Halcomb was penalised for a tackle from behind inside the box. James Hilsdon made no mistake from the penalty spot to level the scores at 1-1.

Leverstock went back in front five minutes before half time when Bircham drilled a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net for his 14th goal of the season, and they had a series of chances early in the second half to increase their lead.

A quick break in the 49th minute saw Halcomb put Reece Cameron through on goal, but his shot went wide, and two minutes later Donaldson went on a solo run before also shooting wide. On 59 minutes Cameron got on the end of a cross from Bircham but again his shot went wide, and four minutes later a rasping shot from Donaldson was well saved by Bedford keeper Ross Tompkins.

Bedford's pacey attack had also shown a threat in the second half, but Leverstock still led the game until the 77th minute, when the defence inexplicably stood still on the edge of the box as the ball was played through to Campbell, who took advantage by sidestepping around Craig Garrett and slotting home the equaliser.

Within two minutes there was a virtual repeat performance as the defence stood still again to allow Charles through on goal, and he squared to set up an easy tap-in for Jack Boyd to put Bedford 3-2 up.

The game was only going one way now, and the result was sealed in the 87th minute as Charles showed his pace again to run through and shoot home a fourth Bedford goal.

Leverstock now face a tough visit to Welwyn Garden City in the league on Saturday.