by John Bacon

Haringey Borough 1
Leverstock Green 0
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

A Borough side again much-changed and looking understandably weary at times having played four games in the last nine days - with Saturday’s game being the second in three days - ground out another solitary goal victory over visiting Leverstock Green.

It was a game which never reached great heights with the pitch not conducive to the game of the skilful visitors, who had run rings around Borough on their own superb surface only a few weeks ago.

It was certainly Borough’s defence which earned the points this time as visiting custodian Carl Tasker was rarely called on and never extended, with his main contribution being to concede the penalty with which Lloyd Opara settled the game in the 22nd minute.

This was in Borough’s first dangerous attack when Tolu Popoola set off in pursuit of the ball, and as he attempted to by-pass Tasker the ‘keeper clipped him sufficiently to lead the referee to point immediately to the spot. Opara then confidently drove it home hard and low.

The yellow card for the ‘keeper was sufficient as Popoola was heading to the left away from goal when caught.

Both before and after the goal it was Leverstock who had made most of the running, forcing a series of corners and free kicks from which they won nearly every ball in the air, although fortunately the Borough defence was doing just enough to prevent any clearcut opportunities.

There was one prolonged goalmouth scramble from which they seemed certain to score but the ball was eventually hacked off the line to safety.

Little in the way of danger to the Greens' goal was being created with the full-backs Billy Haspineall and Andreas Loizou being fully defensively occupied and less frequently able to engage in raiding down the wings in the customary Borough style.

Usual right back Charles Douse had to move into central defence in the absence of that position's usual practitioners and along with captain Bosun Adebaki gave a solid performance.

Leverstock continued to enjoy the majority of possession throughout the second half but fortunately their finishing was not of the same quality as the approach work.

But Christofi did once have to show his class as he managed to turn over the top a powerful shot unleashed almost from the byline on his right which looked to be swerving in just under the bar.

Borough were handicapped twenty minutes from time when Gabriel Nana-Owusu foolishly lashed out after being fouled and with the referee in close attendance a red card was correct and inevitable.

Further misfortune was to follow as Opara sustained a knee injury which has probably ended his season. Borough substitute Carlos Gander went close to threading his way through but was eventually crowded out and fellow substitute Emmanuel Afful made a few promising runs and sent over one fine low cross which came to nothing.

Borough played the last five minutes with only nine players as Gander limped off after all substitutes had been used but even then the defence remained composed enough to prevent Christofi being subjected to any real test.

The win lifted Borough two more places up the table to 16th and two wins from their last seven games will guarantee safety, even if the other seven endangered teams achieve favourable results.