Leverstock Green slip to first defeat of the campaign

The visitors were on top from the start, and could have taken the lead in the fifth minute when Kardan Campbell shot over the bar following a corner.

It only took them a further four minutes to open the scoring. Tommy Wade’s long throw into the box wasn’t cleared, and Jordan Watson connected with a hooked volley into the top corner of the net.

Louis Bircham replaced the injured James Sears after 22 minutes and, four minutes later, Bircham played a through-ball for Callum Wright, who put the ball across the face of goal but there was nobody there to finish it off.

Hertford went close again after 39 minutes when Charlie Smith’s free-kick was blocked by the wall, but his second effort from the rebound went just wide.

Two minutes later, Leverstock could have levelled when Dan Lake’s cross found the head of Wright, but Hertford keeper Harry Ricketts saved.

A minute before the break, Hertford had another chance when Smith’s free kick was met with a header from Wade which hit the bar.

In the last minute of the half, Hertford added their second goal when a clearance was blocked and Leigh Rose was put through to slot past David Bailey.

Leverstock could have few complaints about being two goals down after a half in which they had given the ball away far too many times.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Four minutes in Liam Hind’s clearance was blocked, and Watson was through on goal but put it over the bar.

Smith missed another good chance soon afterwards and Watson was through again after 63 minutes but Bailey saved well.

A minutes later, a short goal kick from Bailey was headed straight back into the path of Leigh Rose, but his shot was wide.

It was then Leverstock’s turn to miss two very good chances within five minutes.

With 70 minutes on the clock, Green’s best move of the match concluded with Billy Smith putting Mark Woolley through on goal. Woolley’s shot beat Ricketts but went wide of the post.

Five minutes later, a great ball from Hind put Smith clean through, but from a similar position his shot also went across goal and just wide.

Hertford spurned several more chances to add to their tally and, in stoppage time, Hind had the opportunity for a consolation goal, but hit the bar with a shot from a couple of yards out.

Leverstock will have to pick themselves up before their next game, which is on Tuesday night away to Biggleswade United, kick-off 7.45 pm.