20th July: Pre-season friendly

Leverstock Green 2 Aylesbury United 0

A somewhat makeshift Leverstock Green squad pulled off an impressive pre-season win on Saturday against Aylesbury United, newly-promoted to the Southern League.

Steve Benitez, Danny Manzi and around a dozen players were all away on the day for various reasons, leaving Daren Bloor in charge of putting together a squad from what remained plus a few of last season's reserve team players. In the end the squad acquitted themselves very well, not only winning the game but keeping a clean sheet.

The Aylesbury side featured four former Leverstock players, but lacked their prolific front partnership from last season of Stacey Field and Louis Austin, both through injury. Even so, the bulk of the side that clinched promotion by finishing second in the SSML Premier Division was on display today.

David Bailey occupied the Leverstock goal for most of the game, and pulled off the first in a string of excellent saves in the 9th minute, turning a shot from Joey Acheampong into the side netting. At the other end Ducks keeper Jack Sillitoe had to turn a shot from Jon Davies round the post on 12 minutes, and save a shot from Stewart King six minutes later. Tom Hoey sent a lob just over the bar on 26 minutes after a great run from Junior Bushiri. Bailey saved from Zac Reynolds on 37 minutes, and saved again a minute before the break when a free kick found Steve Hatch in front of goal.

The second half opened with a lot of activity in the Leverstock box, but Bailey continued to be in great form, keeping out everything that was thrown his way, sometimes by unorthodox means. There was also an impressive display in the centre of defence from Mark "Munch" Broome, a great servant for the reserves over the last couple of years but never featured in a first team squad before.

Leverstock almost took the lead on 52 minutes when King followed up Sillitoe's save from Marvin Tabi, but put the rebound over the bar. However, the goal eventually came ten minutes later. Joe Cooper played an excellent through ball, and Junior Bushiri latched onto it ahead of Sillitoe before slotting the ball into the corner of the net.

It got even better for the Green on 73 minutes, their two new forward signings combining as Stewart King set up Ben Edwards to shoot home a second goal. The Leverstock side kept up their performance until the end, substitute keeper Martin Oborne completing the clean sheet with a couple of saves.

It's difficult to gauge the progress of the squad with two very different Leverstock sides having seen two very different results from their two games, but with two more friendlies plus a Herts Charity Shield tie to come before the start of league fixtures, hopefully things will look clearer by then. Next Saturday Leverstock host United Counties League side Northampton Spencer.

Starting team: David Bailey, Jamie Davidge, Mark Broome, Mark Shadbolt, Alex Foster, Marvin Tabi, Tom Hoey, Jon Davies, Junior Bushiri, Stewart King, Ben Edwards. Subs (all used): Shaun Foster, Stefan Owen-Edwards, Daren Bloor, Joe Cooper, Chad Pinching, Martin Oborne (GK).

Aylesbury United: Jack Sillitoe, Zac Reynolds, Lee Grace, Jack Wood, Bill Morgan, Steve Hatch, Joey Acheampong, Greg Williams, Dom Petrucci, Ben Butler, Ben Baines. Subs (all used): Daniel Jones, Richard Armstrong, Kris Tyrell.