Members
of the Molten Spartan South Midlands League
Members
of the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League
|
| Match Report |
| Saturday 26th
April 2008 |
Molten Spartan South
Midlands League Premier Division |
| Leverstock Green |
(0) |
1 |
Armstrong 55 |
| Oxhey Jets |
(0) |
0 |
. |
| at Pancake Lane |
Leverstock Green
completed an enjoyable season on a high
note with their fifth straight win. James
Armstrong’s second-half strike was
enough to beat Oxhey Jets, although there
were plenty of chances for both sides in
a surprisingly lively end-of-season game.
The result means that Green finish in a
creditable 7th place in a strong division.
The visitors made the brighter start and
went close in the 6th minute. Tim
O’Mara got a glancing header onto
Sam Warrell’s corner, but Steve
Flain headed off the line at the far post.
Leverstock’s first near miss came in
the 17th minute. Steve Hawes interchanged
passes with Armstrong and made a strong
run into the box, but his shot was turned
round the post by Jets keeper Dean Layton.
Oxhey had another chance on 23 minutes
when the Green defence made a mess of
clearing a free kick. The ball dropped
for Chris Killer but he shot over the bar
from close range.
On 28 minutes Hawes played the ball out
to Frankie Jowle, who did well to beat
Dave Maynard before sending over an
excellent cross. Anthony Page met it with
a firm header but Layton tipped it over
the bar. Matt Wardle was next to have an
effort saved by Layton on 32 minutes, and
Louis West headed straight at Layton from
a Jowle free kick on 39 minutes. West had
another chance three minutes later when
Wardle chipped in a cross, but he
volleyed over when the ball looked a nice
height for a header.
The second half began with the game still
goalless, and again Jets made a strong
start, with Killer’s shot on the run
being turned round the post by Carl
Tasker on 51 minutes. However, the
decisive strike came from Leverstock in
the 55th minute. Kenny Hull clipped the
ball forward from the halfway line into
the path of Armstrong, who then showed
great strength to hold off the challenge
of a defender on the edge of the box
before finding the space to hit a fierce
shot past Layton into the net. It was
Armstrong’s 25th goal of the season,
and his 99th for the club in four seasons.
It was Green’s 86th league goal of
the season, equalling their previous
highest tally for goals in a South
Midlands League season, and their 122nd
goal in all competitions this season.
Armstrong had another chance four minutes
later when Layton’s weak punch to
Flain’s cross dropped for him, but
he shot over the bar. The visitors were
gifted a chance on 64 minutes when West
headed the ball straight up in the air on
the edge of his own box, but O’Mara
shot wide with the goal at his mercy. On
83 minutes Marc Ayres had a free header
at the far post from a corner, but Tasker
saved.
Two minutes from time a quick turn from
Armstrong left two defenders in his wake
as he headed for goal. Instead of
shooting himself, he unselfishly laid off
to Allan Arthur, who left the ball behind
with his first touch, and had his shot
saved at the second attempt. In the last
minute Armstrong was twice denied by
Layton inside the six-yard box, the
second effort somehow deflecting off the
unwitting keeper’s body and wide.
However, in stoppage time the win was
very nearly given away. Mark Welling
dwelt on the ball near his own corner
flag and was robbed by Jamie Arthur. The
Jets sub crossed for Louis Putman, who
missed a sitter, shooting over the bar
from a couple of yards out to let Welling
off the hook.
It would have rounded things off nicely
had Armstrong found the net again to
complete his century and break the
club’s league goals record, but it
was not to be. Indeed, two more goals
would have seen Green move up to sixth
place. However, no one was complaining at
another win and a third successive high
finish in the league. |
| Team: Tasker,
Hull, Flain, Parsons, West, Page (Boad),
Wardle, Hawes (Welling), Armstrong,
Arthur, Jowle. |
 |
| The team pictured before
the game. Back row (L to R): Mick Vipond,
Pete Jerram, Keith Hardy, Bill Dawes,
Louis West, Carl Tasker, Allan Arthur,
Anthony Page, Stuart Bailey, Graeme
Milner, Steve Boad, Stephen Page, Tony
Smart, Andy Stratford. Front Row: Kenny
Hull, Frankie Jowle, Steve Flain, Steve
Hawes, Matt Wardle, Mark Welling, James
Armstrong, Jamie Parsons. |
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