Northwood U18 3  Leverstock Green U18 7

Thursday 9th October 2014

NORTHWOOD UNDER 18		FA Youth Cup
Team line-up
1	Alex Devereaux
2	Michael Norris
3	William Thomas-Dawkins off
4	Tom Bennett off
5	Conor Hynes
6	Gerry Gallen
7	Denholm Walton
8	Kyle O'Connor
9	Jamie Doolan
10	Lucas Halligan off
11	Shaquille Cope-McLean
Substitutes
12	Gevik Gregge on
14	Zach Lowenthal on
15	De Andre Johnson on
16	-
17	-

The Woods crashed out of the FA Youth Cup for another year, soundly beaten by a Leverstock Green side with an impressive forward line that crashed in two goals in the first ten minutes. Richard Elderfield's side had its preparations disrupted as goalkeeper Kamal Foster and centre-half Gerry Gallen were both ruled out and it left them weakened in defence.

That showed almost immediately as the visitors started like an express train. Luke Warner-Ely chipped just wide and Casey Lindsell poked another effort the wrong side of the post before Harry Gilbert headed a Lindsell cross home after just seven minutes. Two minutes later Alfie Boswell set up the lightning quick Warner-Ely and the Woods were 0-2 down.

Northwood hardly got a look in but they battled hard and restricted Leverstock Green to just a couple of close efforts until Lindsell got on the score sheet on 32 minutes and then the visitors turned the screw. Warner-Ely grabbed his second and then Boswell netted to make it 0-5 at half-time.

There was a triple substitution for the Woods soon after the restart, but their opponents soon made it 6-0 with Warner-Ely completing his hat-trick and Charlie Frost netting a seventh.
Only after the Green took off a couple of their stars did Northwood threaten and they were awarded a penalty after 72 minutes. It seemed it would only be a consolation but Davantay Hastings had his kick saved by Mark Berg in goal.

But Hastings made up for it with a neat goal three minutes later and when substitute Gevik Gregge fired home after good work from De Andre Johnson, spirits rose. Top scorer Hastings netted his second of the game in the final stages and the 3-7 scoreline at least had some respectability.