Next up – Leverstock Green
Saturday, 25th October at Pancake Lane, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 4NQ.
Pitching in Southern League, Divison One (Central); kick off 3pm.
Admission
Adults £10, Concessions £6, under 12 free.
Programme online and free to download.
Our opponents
The Green are only three years younger than us but didn’t achieve senior status until the early 1990s when they joined the South Midlands League. That’s where they stayed until they finished fourth in what by then had become the Spartan South Midlands League in the 2023/4 season. They defied the odds and won the play-offs to gain promotion to the Southern League. They defied the odds again in their first season at Step 4. Having spent much of the season in a relegation position they won six of their last eight league matches to pull clear. The most telling of their victories was a 3-0 success over near neighbours Kings Langley whose final matches were the opposite of Leverstock’s and condemned them to relegation instead.
Form guide
Leverstock are twelfth in the table with just two wins but seven draws from their twelve games. They have played twice as many league games away from home as they have at Pancake Lane where their four games have brought one win and two draws. With six goals scored (the same number as those conceded) they average one and a half goals per home game. Like us they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Ilford and didn’t get beyond one game in the FA Trophy. Their last win was on August Bank Holiday Monday, a 2-1 home success against Thame United. Since then their eight league games have produced six draws. This will be their first home game in October, their last two in September bringing draws against Leighton Town and Hadley.
Ware remain unbeaten in six games. The fly in the ointment however is that Jack Grosvenor won’t be in the side to help lengthen that run on Saturday. He suffered a broken rib and collapsed lung when he and Beaconsfield’s Ade Gbolahan came together last week. Currently we expect Jack to be out for anything from four to six weeks. We’re sure all fans will want to wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. Whether Paul Halsey will try to bring in a replacement or rely on two of the existing centre backs in his squad we will find out in due course.
Previous Meetings
For the second week running we have only met the upcoming opponents four times in the past. Fraser Higgs scored both goals in a 2-0 home win in the FA Vase back in 2000 but we lost 2-1 away in a senior cup game of 2014, Jermaine Osei scoring. Last season’s league meetings saw Jon Clements get the only goal of the game at Pancake Lane but we couldn’t make it a league double, drawing 1-1 at home thanks to George Ironton’s goal.
Commentary
Pete and Symon will be at the game if you can’t make it yourself. They’ll be broadcasting commentary from 2.55 at https://90minuteslivefootball.mixlr.com/events/4606532.
Match officials
Our referee this Saturday is Isaac Blakey and the assistant referees are Dylan Ing and Mark Baxter.
Youth Football
There are two EJA league games at Wodson Park this Sunday, with the under-16s at home to Barking at 10am and then the under-15s facing FC Romania at midday. Entry is free with the club room and tea bar open throughout.
