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Rub of the Green
Controversy reigned as Leverstock Green ended their three game losing streak with a 2-1 defeat of Haringey Borough.
With goals from Matt Wardle and Richard Harvey having put them 2-1 ahead, Green survived a late scare on Tuesday evening at Pancake Lane.
The referee ruled that keeper Carl Tasker had kept a Haringey header from crossing the line when he clawed the ball away, much to the anger and frustration of the Haringey players and faithful.
"To be fair I was just saying to the lads I couldn't tell whether the ball had gone over the line or not" said Tasker afterwards.
"I'd love to see it again. If I can't say if it was in and I was next to it it's got to be difficult for the ref to see."
Steve Heath was just happy his side got the rub of the green.
"I thought we had a bit of luck but we deserved it" he said.
Green were the better team throughout, but went behind when a soft penalty was given for Bill Morgan's tackle in the box on eight minutes.
Adam Scotcher stepped up to send Tasker the wrong way.
But the visitors from North London relied heavily on the shot stopping quality of Brian Sealey, who kept Levy at bay until Wardle tucked the ball home in the 25th minute.
He was left with the simplest of finishes as Lee Bircham's corner was headed into his path by Dale Sears.
Haringey shot themselves in the foot as they missed a couple of gilt-edged chances, but they always looked shaky at the back. They held firm until Harvey doubled Green's tally 25 minutes into the second half.
The impressive Sealey acrobatically tipped Bekim Culaj's fierce drive onto the bar, but Harvey was on hand to nod the ball over him from the rebound.
Green could have put the game beyond doubt – Matt Wardle somehow firing over from barely two yards with the goal at his mercy near the end.
And he and the rest of the men in white and green would have been thanking their lucky stars as just two minutes later the referee waved away seemingly justified claims that the ball had crossed the line.
Before the game Steve Heath's side were awarded team of the month for January by MSSML President Brian Smith after a run which saw them win three in a row, scoring seven and conceding just once.
Heath hopes Tuesday's triumph can get them back to winning ways.
They go to Langford on Saturday and are at home to Dunstable on Tuesday.
To see how they get on see next week's Gazette.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
