Leverstock Green opened up their pre-season schedule by welcoming Conference South newcomers Wealdstone to Pancake Lane.

Both sides used the game as an opportunity to look at a number of players, with Leverstock in particular fielding a different starting eleven in the two halves. The first half side featured only four players who appeared last season. Wealdstone found the net in the 4th minute when some uncertain defending left Jack Hutchison free on the edge of the box to hit a shot which keeper Dom Cassells got a hand to, but couldn't keep out. The Leverstock side played some nice football in midfield, and big striker David Pit came closest to scoring with a couple of long-range efforts.

The second half Leverstock line-up featured eight players from last season's side, but Wealdstone also made wholesale changes at half time, and they began to show their class with their more experienced players on the field. A poorly-taken Green corner on 53 minutes led to a quick Wealdstone break as Alex Witham ran clean through. Keeper Dan McNicholas saved Witham's shot, but Jack Smith followed up to net the rebound.

Five minutes later the Green defence was caught square as Louis Bircham crossed for Hayes Thomas to score a simple third goal. Prolific striker Scott McGleish could have added a fourth on 76 minutes when he got in behind the defence from a goal kick, but McNicholas saved well to keep his shot out. The Green side improved after an untidy start to the half, and Billy Smith wasn't far away with two long-range shots.

The game was a useful workout for both sides, and Leverstock have four more friendlies to narrow down the huge squad of players they currently have. Next Saturday sees a double bill at Pancake Lane with the reserves playing Hillingdon F.C. at 1pm followed by the first team against Eton Manor at 3:30pm.

First half side: Dominic Cassells, Michael Williams, Mark Shadbolt, Dean Kemp, Sledge Mubama, Luis Almeida, Ricardo Ramos, James Sears, David Pit, Luke Wells, Kamaron English.

Second half side: Dan McNicholas, Liam O'Keefe, Dwaine Bryan (Luke Warner-Eley), Myles Tang, Joseph Oseyemi, Lee Gardner, Gareth Long, Mark Woolley, Billy Smith, Callum Wright, Dene Gardner.