Stotfold 3 Leverstock Green 0
Leverstock Green’s poor run of form continued on Saturday as Stotfold inflicted a fourth consecutive defeat on Steve Benitez’s side.
It is now seven games since Green last tasted victory, and injuries have really started to take their toll at Pancake Lane.
Benitez was forced to make do without five of his first team squad against Stotfold but, despite that, the first half was an evenly-contested affair.
Brad Wadkins tested Stotfold keeper Dan Eely with a fierce drive after 18 minutes, before Nyasha Sagwete headed over from a Stuart Lochead free-kick at the other end.
Green came close again through a deflected James Dabbs strike, but Stotfold began to get the upper hand in the latter stages of the first half.
Sean Herr struck a shot just over the bar after 30 minutes, before Sam Pemberton’s effort was blocked by Green keeper David Bailey soon afterwards.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Levy camped in their own half and allowing Stotfold to come on to them.
The opening goal arrived in the 53rd minute – Lee Pateman’s speculative shot from distance flew over the head of Mark Shadbolt and left Bailey flat-footed on his line as the ball nestled in the corner of the net.
Wadkins came close to restoring parity two minutes later, but it was Stotfold who scored the decisive second goal.
Shadbolt brought down Herr in the area, and the Stotfold man dusted himself off to dispatch the resulting spot-kick.
Green’s best chance of the game arrived after 75 minutes when Dabbs put Craig Sharples through on goal, but the Levy substitute could only slide his effort wide of the post.
Dabbs was then denied by a fine save from Eely, but Stotfold wrapped up the win with a third goal when Mark Ellis netted at the second time of asking.
At the time the Gazette went to press, Levy were preparing to take on Aylesbury United in the Division One Cup.
Benitez’s side then weclome Holmer Green to Pancake Lane on Saturday.