Saturday 4th August: Pre-season friendly

Leverstock Green 2 Northwood 3

Leverstock Green completed their pre-season campaign with a defeat to Northwood, but in no way was the result a confidence downer as the Green side played very well again, opening up their Evo-Stik Southern League opponents a number of times and creating good chances.

Steve Benitez's side should have taken the lead in the 27th minute from a quick breakaway. Adiel Mannion brought the ball out of defence before Ben Butler and Tobi Akin exchanged passes and put Paul Insley through. Insley took the ball round the keeper, but his square ball just eluded Akin.

Instead they went a goal down two minutes later as Adamson Ajayi won the ball in midfield and ran through to open the scoring for Northwood. There was another good chance for the Green three minutes before the break as Butler chipped a pass to put Akin through, but he shot high and wide.

Northwood doubled their lead on the hour as a free kick lofted into the box dropped for Oliver Hawkins to volley home a second goal. Leverstock pulled a goal back five minutes later when Akin ran onto a through ball and took it round the keeper to score, although there was a strong suspicion of handball.

The visitors went 3-1 up in the 68th minute when Romaine Walker jinked into the box before shooting home, but Leverstock continued to create chances. Akin should have pulled a goal back on 83 minutes when he was clean through, but shot wide. However, a minute later Jon Davies showed more composure in his finishing as he ran through and slotted the ball past the keeper to reduce the arrears back to 3-2. That turned out to be the final score from a thoroughly entertaining match.

Starting team: Joe Healey, Adiel Mannion, Chris Cutler, Ross Miller, Alfee Robbins, Patrick Fromant, Ben Butler, James Dabbs, Curt Dizon, Tobi Akin, Paul Insley. Subs used: Mark Shadbolt, Jon Davies, Neco Maynard, Marvin Tabi, Daniel Malley.

The Green begin their competitive campaign next Saturday with a visit to fellow SSML Premier Division side Oxhey Jets in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup. Their opening league game is on Tuesday 14th August away to Colney Heath, FA Cup replays notwithstanding.