News Item
Date Posted: Saturday 27th July 2013
Green hit for five by Spencer

27/7/13: Pre-season friendly

Leverstock Green 0 Northampton Spencer 5

Leverstock Green's up-and down pre-season continued on Saturday as they fell to a heavy defeat to United Counties League side Northampton Spencer.

As with last Saturday's game the Leverstock squad was decimated by player unavailability, even more so this week. On a very warm and humid day there was little action in the early stages until the visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when Jack Bartley got up at the far post to head home a corner. They might have added to their lead before half time but for three good saves from David Bailey late in the half.

Leverstock didn't look like scoring until the hour mark, just after Stefan Owen-Edwards came off the bench. He might have scored with his first touch as Mark Brown's cross found him in front of goal, but he hit it straight at the keeper. Two minutes later Owen-Edwards latched onto a great ball from Mark Broome, and connected with a volley which the keeper did well to tip onto the bar.

Like last week, Broome put in one of the best performances of the day, and it was after he left the game following a strong challenge that the Green defence started to fall apart. The defence was caught seriously short on 74 minutes as Luke Bartley was gifted the chance to put Spencer 2-0 up.

Junior Bushiri came close to pulling a goal back on 79 minutes as his shot was turned round the post by the keeper, but four minutes later it was 3-0 when Luke Bartley came in unmarked to head home a cross. Things got even worse for Leverstock as Luke Bartley completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 86 minutes and virtually walked in his fourth and Spencer's fifth in the last minute.

With manager Steve Benitez back next week the squad should be back to strength for the visit to Desborough Town.

Starting team: David Bailey, Jamie Davidge, Chris Cutler, Mark Shadbolt, Mark Broome, Junior Bushiri, Marvin Tabi, Tunde Owolabi, Daren Bloor, Ben Edwards, Stewart King. Subs (all used): Mark Brown, Chad Pinching, Stefan Owen-Edwards, Shaun Foster.