Leighton finish season on a high

AFC Hayes 1-3 Leighton Town FC

Leighton faced bottom of the league AFC Hayes in their last game of the season. It was also a sad farewell to Tyrone Taylor who has decided to hang up his boots.

AFC Hayes kicked off and had the first corner of the game 4 minutes in but they could only find the side netting, however they opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Ryan Debattista strolled past Dave Murphy, went one on one with Zaki Oualah before finally putting the ball in the net. 

Billy Lobjoit went down injured early in the first half and was replaced with Christian Lester. Leighton's first real chance of the game came in the 23rd minute, when Robbie Goodman headed the ball just wide of the post.

AFC Hayes also had to make an early substitution bringing off Cristian Barrett for Carlton Stewart in the 36th minute. 

Phil Draycott tested Sam Mazurek 39 minutes in, he had to make a diving save and push the ball away with his fingertips to deny Leighton of an equaliser. Leighton managed to draw level in the 43rd minute, the ball fell for Gary Ridgway and he managed to find the back of the net. 

Mark Bunker took down David Manu just outside box moments before the half time whistle. Tom Dawson stepped up to take the free kick and Goodman was on hand to clear the ball away with his foot. 

A great ball by Taylor found Bunker, he calmly transferred the ball over to Draycott, who played it straight through Mazureks' legs, to put Leighton into the lead at half time. 

With the second half underway it was only a matter of time before things started to get heated between the two teams. In the 49th minute Manu squared up to Murphy, but thankfully the referee stepped in before it became out of hand.

Mike Kinsella clattered into Lester in the 53rd minute and subsequently caused himself more damaged than his target and was substituted off to make way for Dujon Desagurante. Leighton also made their second substitution of the game bringing off Michael Lyon for Ash Farmer. 

Shouts were heard in the 60th minute when Desagurante passed the ball back to Mazurek, but the referee seemed oblivious to the pass back and play continued. 

Danny Watson was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute for pulling Jerome Eccleston's shirt. Only minutes later Bunker also received a yellow card for taking down Manu. 

Draycott had a pot shot at goal in the 66th minute and even though it had some power behind it, it curled just wide of the post. Taylor had a chance at goal in the 74th minute but he headed the ball over the bar.

Leighton made their final substitution brining off Draycott for Alvin Rajaram in the 78th minute. In the 83rd minute Leighton seal the deal with a third and final goal. AFC Hayes's defence were slacking and Farmer took the opportunity to score, making it 3-1. 

AFC Hayes were awarded a free kick just outside the box with 5 minutes remaining and Rajaram was on hand to ensure that the ball didn't reach the goal, clearing it well down the pitch. 

Taking into today's results Leighton Town have finished in 18th position with 43 points. A great achievement for Craig Bicknell and his team, especially with it being their first experience at this level. 

We'd like to congratulate Kettering Town on their automatic promotion and commiserations to both AFC Hayes and North Greenford United on their relegation.

Leighton Town will be having a presentation night on Saturday 9th May at 7pm at the club, to celebrate the end of the season.

AFC Hayes

Team- Mazurek, Expiteta, Barrett, Kinsella, Eccleston, Azamoah, Cass, Berry, Debattista, Dawson, Manu

Subs- Olajuby, Minter, Desagurante, Stewart, Baldwin

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Taylor, Morgan, Lyon, Lobjoit, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Crook, Farmer, Rajaram, Senla, Lester 

Attendance- 76

By Hannah Sellman 

Injury time penalty earns Leighton a point

Egham Town FC 2-2 Leighton Town FC

Craig Bicknell welcomed back Phil Draycott and Dave Murphy into the starting line up today with Alvin Rajaram and Ash Farmer both unavailable to play. 

Leighton kicked off the first half but it was soon clear that Egham were the much more physical side. The first corner of the game fell to Egham in the 5th minute, but there was no need to panic as it went straight out for a goal kick.

Halluna Mesembe put Egham into the lead in the 11th minute. He walked all over Mark Bunker, producing a low and powerful shot, that caught Zaki Oualah off balance and went straight into the back of the net. 

Billy Lobjoit had a go at goal for Leighton three minutes later but the ball bobbled between the Egham defenders allowing Jamie Norris to gather the ball easily. 

Josh Ansdrew could have made it two for Egham, when he bowled over Leighton's defence, but his shot found the post. Leighton had their first corner of the game 20 minutes in. Mitchel Gutteridge cleared it easily with his head but only as far as Murphy who played the ball back in but Danny Watson was offside.

Watson had a shot in the 31st minute but it was well blocked by Yinka Salami. Michael Lyon clattered into Norris in the 35th minute. Norris landed awkwardly and played was stopped so he could receive treatment. 

A great shot by Draycott saw Norris have to plam the ball away and moments later Watson came close but Salami headed it into Norris's hands to stop him from scoring. 

Lobjoit was shown a yellow card in the 40th minute for kicking the ball away after a free kick had been awarded. Lyon also received a yellow card just two minutes later just after Aaron Morgan had been involved in a colliding tackle with both Troy Furgerson and Wilson Gondwe. 

Egham kicked off the second half Bunker took his chance at goal but Norris managed to catch the ball with a bit of a fumble. 49 minute on the clock and Egham managed to get their second goal of the game.

Danny Bassett went one on one with Bunker and won, slipping the ball easily into the corner of the net. It could have been 3-0 as Ansdrew managed to work round Robbie Goodman, he then played the ball to Brendan Matthew who skied it over the bar.

Leighton made their first substitution in the 54th minute bringing off Tyrone Taylor for Christian Lester. A fantastic shot by Morgan in the 57th minute curled too far and just missed the post. 

A second substitution for Leighton saw Lyon replaced with Anthony Ottaway in the 59th minute. Leighton had a corner in the 65th minute. Draycott played the ball into the box to find the head of Lester but he headed it over the bar.

A succession of injuries for Egham saw them make their first substitution of the game in the 70th minute. Finally in the 77th minute Leighton managed to pull a goal back.

Gary Ridgway played the ball through to Lobjoit, who managed to curl the ball straight into the corner of the net, a shot that Norris had no chance of saving. An 80th minute corner from Ansdrew saw Oualah punch the ball away and clear off the box to stop Egham extending their lead.

Oualah continued to deny Egham of a third goal, he saved Ansdrew's one on one strike and then Bunker cleared the ball off the line in the 86th minute. Handbags were at dawn in the 88th minute. Matthew squared up to Oualah and once things had settled down the referee showed yellow cards to both Matthew and Ansdrew.

Five minutes into injury time and Ridgway challenged the keeper in the air, with Norris beating Ridgway and sending him to the floor, the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.

Leighton had been thrown a lifeline. Watson stepped up to the spot, keeping calm under the pressure he slotted the ball home, to end the game in a 2-2 draw.

Leighton's next game and last game of the season is away to AFC Hayes on Saturday 25th April, kick off 3pm.

Egham Town FC

Team- Norris, Williamson, Gutteridge, Gondwe, Salami, Neville, Ansdrew, Furgerson, Bassett, Matthew, Mesembe

Subs- Carter, Cunningham, Brewster, Castello, Goulter

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Taylor, Morgan, Lyon, Lobjoit, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Irving, Fitzjohn, Ottaway, Lester

Attendance- 69

By Hannah Sellman 

10 men Royston run rings around Leighton

Leighton Town FC 1-4 Royston Town FC 

With the sun shining down on Bell Close for the last home game of the season, Leighton hoped to continue their success from previous weeks. 

They faced Royston, who are currently sit in a play off position and it always going to be tough, but Craig Bicknell was ready with his team to face the challenge to try and get another 3 points on the board.

Leighton kicked off but Michael Lyon soon gave Royston possession, when he took down Ryan Ingrey. Luckily Zaki Oualah caught the ball well from the the free kick.

Danny Watson went one on one with Ron Yates in the the 5th minute but he couldn't beat him and instead kicked it straight at him. Leighton had the first corner of the game but it was short lived because Royston were awarded a free kick for pushing in the box.

An unusual scramble for the ball took place between Oualah and Fejiri Okenabirhie and it looked like the ball was handled and shouts were heard but the referee took no notice and the game continued.

It was clear that Oualah had an injury to his calf in the 17th minute, as Robbie Goodman stepped up to take a goal kick for him. However Oualah wasn't subbed off due to his injury and carried on as best as he could.

Royston earned a free kick in the 22nd minute, once again due to Lyon being careless. Steve Bridges stepped up to take the kick, he powered it into the box to find the free head of Liam McDevitt  who put Royston 1-0 up.

A great save by Oualah stopped Royston from extending their lead in the 34th minute and only a minute later Watson was taken down in the box and Royston were reduced to 10 men.

Chris Watters was shown a red card and a penalty was awarded to Leighton. Watson stepped up to take the spot kick and slotted it right into the corner of the net, drawing Leighton level.

Goodman went down injured in the 38th minute and with a player missing in defence Oualah managed to stop Bridges's shot brilliantly. Leighton made their first substitution bringing off Goodman for Odunayo Oke.

The second half underway and with it all square, Ash Farmer fancied his chances at goal, but Yates managed to stop the shot with his feet. 

Yet again Royston scored from another set piece and free header in the 50th minute. Bridges delivered the ball into the box and found the head of Gary Hart who put Royston into the lead. 

As if two goals weren't enough for Royston they went and got their third only 2 minutes later. Hart sent an unstoppable shot towards Oualah and it bounced off the bar and into the net, leaving every one shell shocked at the strike.

Things only got worse for Leighton as Royston went and got their fourth goal from a set piece. The free kick was taken by Scott Bridges and he found, once again a free head in the box this time it was Ingrey. Oualah got a hand to the ball but it wasn't enough to push it away, making it 4-1 to Royston.

Leighton made their second substitution in the 61st minute bringing off Farmer for Anthony Ottaway. Some good play by Aaron Morgan and Oke allowed Watson to take a shot at goal but he could only sky it over the bar.

Morgan had a chance to pull a goal back in the 80th minute, when he went one on one with Yates, but he tried to walk the ball into the net and even though Yates mishandled the ball wasn't able to convert it. 

Two well deserved yellow cards (one each) were shown to Royston's Spyros Mentis and Hart after persistently committing fouls. Leighton tried to convert their short corner into a goal in the 83rd minute but Mark Bunker put it over the bar.

Lyon was shown a yellow card for tripping up Mentis in the 85th minute and he was shortly replaced by Harvey-Bailey Irving as Leighton's final substitution.

Royston continued to outrun Leighton and managed to have three shots in injury time. The first came from Ingrey which Oualah dived to save but the shot was wide.

Next up was substitute Khan Fehmi and Oualah managed to save and convert the ball out for a corner and then Hart headed the ball just wide of the post before the final whistle blew.

Leighton's next game is away to Egham on Saturday 18th April, kick off 3pm.

Royston Town FC

Team- Yates, Wharton, Watters, Bridges, McDevitt, Powell, Mentis, Bridges, Okenabirhie, Hart, Ingrey

     

Subs- Scott-Morris, Bradshaw, Fehmi, Theobald, Nightingale

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Lyon, Ridgway, Goodman, Rajaram, Taylor, Crook, Bunker, Morgan, Watson, Farmer

Subs- Murphy, Fitzjohn, Ottaway, Irving, Oke 

Attendance- 84 

By Hannah Sellman 

Leighton rack up four points over the Bank Holiday weekend

Leighton Town FC 1-1 Chalfont St. Peter

Bank holiday blues for Leighton as they were unable to continue their winning ways against Chalfont, who currently sit 16th in the league.

Chalfont kicked off but it was Leighton who had the first corner of the game in the 2nd minute, unfortunately  Billy Lobjoit was unable to get the ball past the first man.

However Leighton certainly tried to hammer the ball home in the first few minutes after the unsuccessful corner. First Mark Bunker and then Lobjoit, both from Chalfont deflection, but they could only find Mikey Pearce's hands. 

Leighton tried to keep the ball alive after they got their second corner of the game in the 16th minute, but they couldn't find a way to cross it back into the box.

A well taken free kick by Aaron Morgan in the 28th minute saw Pearce have to punch the ball away, but only as far as Lobjoit, who struck it first time and came close to putting Leighton into the lead. 

Robbie Goodman played the ball to Danny Watson in the 31st minute and he managed to take on Chalfont's defence and slot the ball into the left hand corner of the net putting, Leighton 1-0 up. 

Only a minute later it looked like Leighton would get their second of the game. Tyrone Taylor headed the ball down from a free kick to Gary Ridgway and he hit the ball with immense power. Adam Pepera felt the full force of his shot but managed to keep it from reaching Pearce. 

Chalfont had a corner in the 36th minute and with no one marking Anthony Mendy he was free to head the ball, only to thankfully hit the side netting. But it wasn't too long after that, that Chalfont did find the back of the net with a rather scrappy goal. 

In the 40th minute Luke Brook-Smith stepped up to take a corner and with the ball being deflected to Pepera who placed it into the back of the net, making it 1-1 going into half time.

With the second half under way Zaki Oualah made an easy save from Brook-Smith's free kick shot. Leighton made their first substitution bringing off Ash Farmer for Anthony Ottaway.

Remmel Clarke denied Leighton of a second goal in the 54th minute, when he cleared the ball off the line. Ottaway managed to play the ball through to Watson after a great run, Watson maintained possession of the ball and went for goal but the ball found the side netting.

Chalfont came close to getting a second in the 73rd minute when Mendy struck the post with his powerful shot and it thankfully ricocheted out for a goal kick. Pearce made a fabulous save in the 84th minute when Lobjoit took his chances and went for goal and managed to win a corner for Leighton.

Leighton made their second substitution in the 85th minute brining off Ridgway for Alvin Rajaram. Another close call for Leighton for an all important second goal came when Morgan played the ball to Bunker and it went straight across the goal only needing a touch to go over the line.

A final substitution for Leighton saw Harvey- Bailey Irving replace Michael Lyon. A free kick was awarded when Irving pulled down Asen Valchan in the 90th minute but Rajaram was in the box to clear the ball away.

Chalfont had a last ditch attempt at goal in injury time when Glenn Yala put a cross in to hopefully find Clarke, but instead Robbie Goodman was there and cleared the ball down the pitch before the final whistle blew.

Leighton next game is at home to Royston on Saturday 11th April, kick off 3pm.  

Chalfont St. Peter

Team- Pearce, Brook-Smith, Yala, Paxton, Pepera, Hedley, Hudson, Stead, Clarke, Mendy, Louth

Subs- Valchan, Butcher, Fonge, Silcolt, Benmadani

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Taylor, Morgan, Lyon, Lobjoit, Watson, Farmer

Subs- Irving, Fitzjohn, Sopa, Ottaway, Rajaram

Attendance- 70 

By Hannah Sellman 

Three goals means three points for Leighton

Godalming Town FC 0-3 Leighton Town FC 

With a win last week, Craig Bicknell was hoping to continue his success this week against Godalming. Leighton played them at home back in October where they lost 4-0.

Leighton kicked off the first half but it was Godalming who managed to put the ball across towards goal, but Mark Bunker cleared his line and trouble was averted.

Ash Farmer was the first for Leighton to attempt a goal in the 17th minute, but his shot was weak and off target. Tom Willment to Farmer down in the box in the 23rd minute and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty. 

Watson stepped up to the spot, sent Richard Ossai the wrong way and put Leighton 1-0 up. Ossai had to react quickly only moments after the penalty when Farmer took another shot at goal.

33 minutes on the clock and Zaki Oualah made the save of the game. Darren Wheeler sent the ball with power towards him, he spread himself to block the shot and it ricocheted of his boot and out for a corner.

With Leighton having most of the possession, Godalming tried to chop down Michael Lyon just to get a touch of the ball. The referee awarded Leighton a free kick and Aaron Morgan's shot was just shy of the post. 

The second half underway and Leighton continued as they'd left off in the first half. A great ball by Bunker landed awkwardly for Watson but he converted the ball beautifully lobbing it over Godalming's defence and into the back of the net making it 2-0. 

A  corner in the 58th minute from Billy Lobjoit set up Leighton's third goal. The ball fell to the head of Tyrone Taylor and he headed the ball straight through Ossai's arms. 

It could have been 4-0 only minutes later when a free kick by Lobjoit left Ossai flapping, but there was non one to follow the ball into the net. 

Godalming had a chance to pull a goal back in the 61st minute when Graeme Purdy headed the ball straight  across the goal from a free kick. 

Godalming needed to do something drastic to get one over on Leighton so in the 63rd minute they made a triple substitution to try and boast moral on the pitch. Bunker was shown a yellow card in the 66th minute for handling the ball. 

Leighton made a double substitution in the 68th minute brining off Lobjoit and Farmer for Odunayo Oke and Anthony Ottaway. 

With Godalming's three substitutions on and settling into the game they started to get on top of Leighton, but not enough to deny Taylor of another shot at goal that flew just over the bar. 

Godalming found the back of the net in the 78th minute but the lino had already flagged for offside so the game continued with the score staying at 3-0. 

Inspired by their offside stick Purdy went one on one with Robbie Goodman and missed the goal when it was easier to put it in the net than not. Play was paused in the 80th minute when Taylor went down with a knock to the ribs, but he recovered quickly. 

Bunker came off in the 82nd minute making way for Donik Sopa. Two minutes before the final whistle Lyon won a free kick. Oualah sent the ball down the pitch to Taylor who headed towards goal making Ossai dive for the shot that fell just wide of the post. 

Oualah made a 90th minute save to deny Will Hutton of a goal.

Leighton next game is on Monday 6th April at home to Chalfont St. Peter, kick off 3pm.

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Rajaram, Goodman, Crook, Taylor, Morgan, Lyon, Lobjoit, Watson, Farmer

Subs- Ottaway, Fitzjohn, Sopa, Oke, Irving

Godalming Town FC

Team- Ossai, Wales, Hutton, Simeone, Lloyd, Willment, Wheeler, W. Hutton, Purdy, L. Hutton, Frith

Subs- Howard, Mazzone, Musgrove, Hutchings 

Attendance- 119

By Hannah Sellman 

   

Two first half goals seal the deal for Leighton

Leighton Town FC 2-1 Daventry Town FC

It was another busy week for Craig Bicknell as he signed four new players to boast Leighton's numbers and with two new faces starting it wasn't long before the ball found the back of the net.

Daventry kicked off exactly on the hour and 11 minutes into the first half Leighton were awarded the first corner of the game. 

With the ball landing in the box it was a scrap between the two teams to get it under control but Michael Mundy managed to tap it across the line and put Leighton into the lead. 

Only a minute later Billy Lobjoit had a clear run at goal. His shot was pushed aside by Ronnie Carroll but fell to the feet of Mundy, who got his second of the game.  

Leighton had another couple of chances at goal, with Odunayo Oke's strike going just wide of the post and Ash Farmer's cross just needing an extra touch to cross the line. 

In the 26th minute Daventry managed to pull a goal back. Ricky Hill produced a long throw and as Zaki Oualah tried to punch the ball away Aaron King managed to get in the way and find the back of the net, making it 2-1.

Play was stopped in the 30th minute when Gary Ridgway sustained a knock to the nose and needed treatment. Penalty appeals were heard in the 38th minute when Ridgway was taken down badly in the box and needed treatment again this time for his shoulder. 

Leighton had a chance just before the half time whistle to get a third goal when Mark Bunker curved the ball in from a corner to find the head of Tyrone Taylor but he headed the ball over the bar. 

Mundy tried to get his hat-trick of the game when Farmer played him through but although his shot was powerful it was caught well by Carroll. 

Leighton made their first substitution during half time bringing off an injured Ridgway for Dave Murphy. With the second half underway Leighton came out fighting for another goal to inch even further ahead of Daventry and Lobjoit came close but went wide in the 46th minute. 

A silly handball by Robbie Goodman in the 55th minute saw Daventry awarded a free kick just outside the box but luckily it hit the wall. 

The 59th minute saw the game once again stopped for a head injury this time Alvin Rajaram and Daventry's James Weale who had sliced his eyebrow open and was replaced quickly with Harry Southern. 

Leighton made their second substitution bringing off Oke for Dale Turney. A great one handed save by Oualah in the 65th minute denied Daventry of an equaliser. Taylor's powerful shot in the 70th minute tested Carroll's quick reactions and he held the ball firmly. 

A final substitution was made for Leighton in the 76th minute brining of goal scorer Mundy for Anthony Ottaway. 

Ottaway played a lovely ball through to Bunker in the 81st minute, he hit the ball with power and Carroll only just managed to push it over the bar for a corner. 

Turney received a yellow card in the 88th minute for kicking the ball away after the referee had blown up for a Daventry free kick. Leighton had a last minute corner to try and make it 3-1 but it wasn't to be and it finished 2-1.

Leighton's next game is on Saturday 4th April away to Godalming, kick off 3pm. 

Daventry Town FC

Team- Carroll, Deeney, Hancocks, S.King, Hill, Henderson, Weale, Howell, Tricks, A.King, O'Connor

Subs- Kiembi, Musvnga, Zidyana, Southern, Fuller

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Rajaram, Taylor, Morgan, Oke, Mundy, Lobjoit, Farmer

Subs- Murphy, Ottaway, Irving, Turney, Sopa 

Attendance- 100

By Hannah Sellman  

Leighton loom above the line after another loss

St Ives Town 4-0 Leighton Town FC

With a depleted team due to suspensions and other more important commitments than football, Craig Bicknell managed to successfully sign Paul-George Ericson and Donik Sopa ahead of the game, however both were benched as Leighton's only two substitutes.

With the first half underway it was pretty even between the two teams and you couldn't really tell who was the mid-table team. 

Leighton had the first corner of the game 2 minutes in and with Tim Trebes missing the ball completely it was a chance to open the scoring.

A great stop by Dave Murphy denied Ben Seymour-Shove of having a shot on target for St Ives. With a corner being given, Charlie Death rattled the bar with a powerful header, before the ball was cleared down the pitch.

Murphy was shown a yellow card in the 16th minute for what looked like accidental handball. A brilliant back heel of the ball by Aaron Morgan found Gary Ridgway in the 22nd minute and his shot saw Trebes palm the ball away. 

Leighton's Danny Watson scored in the 39th minute but the flag was up for offside and the goal was disallowed. St Ives nearly made it 1-0 on the edge of half time but Murphy cleared the ball off the line while Zaki Oualah was down on the ground. 

The start of the second half saw a much more determined St Ives team and it certainly showed with Leighton not even having a shot at goal.

53 minutes in and Luke Knight headed home a beauty making it 1-0 to St Ives. Leighton made their one and only substitution bringing off Ash Farmer for Donik Sopa. 

A crucial clearance off the line from Ridgway stopped St Ives from getting a second, but in the 71st minute Sopa took down Knight in the box and St Ives were awarded a penalty.

Jack Higgs stepped up to the spot, sent Oualah the wrong way, and bagged a second goal for St Ives. A shot from Jonny Hall in the 79th minute rattled the cross bar for a second time in the game.

The 85th minute saw Oualah sprawled on the floor and the goal open for James Hall to slot the ball into the back of the net for a third goal. It didn't get any better for Leighton as 3 minutes later St Ives managed to get their fourth and final goal of the game. 

Stuart Eason headed the ball down to the feet of Seymour-Shove in the box, who easily put the ball into the net against a defeated Leighton.

Leighton's next game is at home to Daventry Town on Saturday 28th March, kick off 3pm. 

St Ives Town FC

Team- Trebes, O' Malley, Hall, Smith, Death, Knight, Seymour-Shove, Higgs, Eason, Hall, Sinclair

Subs- Moyes, Mead, Lambert, Bream, Peters

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Crook, Murphy, Goodman, Rajaram, Taylor, Lobjoit, Farmer, Morgan, Watson, Ridgway

Subs- Ericson, Sopa, Fitzjohn 

Attendance- 229

By Hannah Sellman