Lynskey does the damage as Leverstock Green are beaten by Sun Sports

Leverstock Green suffered another home defeat on Tuesday night as a single first-half goal proved enough for Sun Sports to claim the win.

Leverstock deserved something out of the game for a battling performance on a sticky pitch, but couldn’t put the ball in the net.

The Green side came out of the blocks quickly, and with only 30 seconds played Louis Bircham set up Callum Wright for a shot that went over the bar.

However, the visitors had a much clearer chance in the sixth minute when a ball over the top put James Armstrong clean through on goal, but the former Leverstock stalwart was denied by a save from Kieran Jimmy.

Sun were denied again after 29 minutes when a cross from Nathan Pooley was hooked off the line by Luke Warner-Eley, and again a few seconds later when Jimmy saved a shot from Craig Lynskey.

The Leverstock defence had been just about coping with the relentless direct style of the visitors, but in the 35th minute Lynskey was through on goal again and this time slotted the ball past Jimmy for a 1-0 lead.

The second half saw Leverstock have the better of the chances. On 55 minutes Bircham got into the six yard box and pulled the ball across goal where Billy Smith was coming in to score, but keeper Ross Hampton reached quickly to smother Smith’s shot.

On 65 minutes substitute Jimmy Talbot got round Hampton but was faced with a very narrow angle to shoot home, and his effort was cleared off the line.

The Green came even closer to an equaliser in the 73rd minute when Smith went on a tricky solo run before hitting a shot from 20 yards that was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Hampton.

In the end it was not to be as Leverstock suffered a fifth straight defeat, and will hope to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host second-bottom Holmer Green.

Leverstock Green: 1. Kieran Jimmy, 2. Damien Cruickshank, 3. Luke Warner-Eley, 4. Danny Arnett (15. Jimmy Talbot 62 mins), 5. Callum Wright, 6. Liam O’Keefe (14. Gavin Smith H/T), 7. Elias Moses, 8. Tommy Walsh, 9. Louis Bircham, 10. Dene Gardner, 11. Billy Smith. Subs not used: 12. Lewis Craze, 16. David Paredes, 17. Casey Linsell.

Sun Sports: 1. Ross Hampton, 2. Gary Walllace, 3. Dan Weeks, 4. Edwin Twesigomwe, 5. Scott Bonner, 6. Chris McCarthy, 7. Dan Bourne (12. Joe Kelly 69 mins), 8. Ashley Lewis, 9. James Armstrong (14. Gary Simmonds 75 mins), 10. Craig Lynskey, 11. Nathan Pooley. Subs not used: 15. Lewis Cole, 16. Craig Garrett