Non-League and Academy football writer

I reported on this big Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division play-off final between Leverstock Green and FC Romania, at Pancake Lane, on a bank holiday Monday afternoon in early May. The home side for this one off play-off final to determine who will be playing step 4 football next season, was Leverstock Green, a side who had finished the league season in fourth place, and who had beaten Harpenden Town in the semi-finals of the play-offs. FC Romania had finished the league season in fifth place, and they had beaten the league’s runners up (Milton Keynes Irish), on their way to this play-off final. This game, which was played in very difficult conditions (because of the rain/water on the pitch), was won 3-0 by Leverstock Green.

In a first half of not very many chances, it was Leverstock Green who managed to create the first chance of the game. Leverstock Green centre-forward Rawn Seale, would flick a header onto Radu-Mihai Stefanoaica, who found himself through on goal, with only the goalkeeper in front of him inside of the FC Romania penalty area. However, his effort was saved by Elgi Fejzo. Shortly after that chance for the home side, FC Romania player Zenon Stylianides hit an effort wide of the Leverstock Green goal, from the left side of their penalty area. There really weren’t many goalscoring opportunities for either side during the opening 45 minutes of the game, and the water on the pitch wasn’t helping both sides, to play their football. Levertock Green player Dan Pett would go quite close to giving his side the lead in the game, after receiving Rawn Seale’s pass on the edge of the FC Romania penalty area, and his resulting effort would go just over the goal.

Leverstock Green would see more of the ball, towards the end of the first half. And just before the end of the first half, the impressive Ethan Mooney would travel inside with the ball from the left flank, before hitting an effort on goal, which was held by Elgi Fejzo. The second half of the match was started well by Leverstock Green, and they would take an early lead, through Dan Pett. Callum Neal’s well delivered cross into the centre of the FC Romania box, from the right flank, was met in the air by Dan Pett, whose headed effort on goal went into the back of the net, despite the efforts of Elgi Fejzo, who had managed to get a hand on the ball. Shortly after taking the lead in the game, Ethan Mooney would hit an effort on the bounce, over the FC Romania goal, from inside of their penalty area. 

FC Romania had managed two goal attempts in quick succession, as the second half progressed, with Malik Nosine hitting an effort over from distance, first of all. And then shortly after, Tobi Coker would hit an effort (from the edge of the Leverstock Green box) not far over goalkeeper Josh Bowler’s goal. Leverstock Green were pushing for that all important second goal of the match. And it would arrive, following a Leverstock Green free-kick. The ball was cleared by an FC Romania defender inside of their penalty area, but only to Callum Neal, who was just inside of the box, and his low and powerful first time effort would go past Elgi Fejzo, and into the goal, 2-0.

Not long after making it 2-0, Leverstock Green had essentially confirmed themselves as play-off winners, by scoring their third goal of the game. Dan Pett’s free-kick delivery into the FC Romania penalty area, would eventually find its way to captain Dan Weeks, whose low effort on goal was cleared off the goal-line by a defender, with the ball then going to Rawn Seale, who finished well into the goal, 3-0. Not long before the end of the match Leverstock Green substitute Guiseppe Delgaudio would hit a low effort from the right side of the FC Romania box, wide of their goal, before the referee had sounded his whistle for full-time. Congratulations to Leverstock Green, on securing promotion to step 4, for next season. They deserved to win the play-off final on the day, in difficult conditions.

Commiserations to FC Romania, who have played some great football this season, and who did well to reach the play-off final. The conditions on the pitch, certainly didn’t help their fast passing game. My player of the match, (despite their being a numbers of players I could have named as player of the match) was Leverstock Green right-back Callum Neal, who as well as helping his side to keep a clean-sheet, would also score a goal and and provide an assist.