Eagles fly away with all 3 points

Leighton Town FC 1-2 Bedford Town FC

With new signing Leon Lobjoit starting, the pressure was on for Leighton to win against Bedford, who are only a place above them in the league.

Leighton kicked off and immediately lost possession of the ball, but luckily Bedford couldn't keep it under control and the ball went out for a corner.

Lobjoit stepped up to take the corner but it was cleared easily by Russell Bull. A shot by Phil Draycott was cleared off the line in the 4th minute. 

Liversedge headed the ball against the bar in the 15th minute and only 3 minutes later was awarded a penalty after being taken down in the box by Ash Farmer. 

Stepping up to the spot Liversedge sent Dan Green the wrong way, hit the ball low and hard into the corner of the net, putting Bedford into a 1-0 lead. 

Leighton had a chance at goal from a free kick in the 20th minute. Draycott fired the ball straight at Garry Malone who fumbled and dropped it, unfortunately there was no one to put the ball across the line. 

Danny Watson was booked in the 37th minute after committing several fouls and back chatting the referee. 

Green made a great save with his feet just as the second half kicked off denying Liversedge of a goal. 

The 56th minute saw Leighton make their only substitution of the game brining off Warren Garcia for Claude Senla.

Robert Parker fired the ball into the back of the net in the 58th minute, but thankfully for Leighton the referee blew for offside leaving the score at 1-0 to Bedford. 

The 60th minute saw Leighton equalise with an own goal by Stuart Smeathers, assisted by Watson. Mark Bunker was shown a yellow card in the 64th minute. 

Farmer came close to sending Leighton into the lead in the 73rd minute,when his shot was pushed over the bar by Malone and out for a corner. Senla was up next to face Malone but his shot was caught firmly. 

Lobjoit committed his first foul in the 78th minute and was instantly shown a yellow card. 

A mistake by Alvin Rajaram saw Liversedge fire home Bedford's second goal in the 87th minute. 

Bunker went down injured after a nasty tackle, however it was Dave Murphy who ended up being shown a yellow card rather than that of the tackler. 

There were altercations after the final whistle, Greg Ling was shown a red card and Watson was shown a second yellow resulting in a red.

Leighton Town wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, the next game is at home to Aylesbury on Saturday 27th December, kick off 3pm. 

Bedford Town FC

Team- Malone, Cooper, Hopewell, Smeathers, Woodward, Wilkinson, Lewis, Oulton, Liversedge, Bull, Parker

Subs- McGoldrick, Winters, Holmes, Ling

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Farmer, Ridgway, Garcia, Murphy, Rajaram, Lobjoit, Bunker, Lyon, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Irving, Halai, Senla 

Attendance- 146

By Hannah Sellman

Bunker earns valuable point for Leighton

Uxbridge FC 1-1 Leighton Town FC

Leighton hit the road again this weekend and made the journey to Uxbridge who currently sit 15th in the league on 25 points after 19 games.

With players still missing Leighton were once again lacking on the bench but they kicked off strongly with Ash Farmer having a shot 2 minutes in.

Phil Draycott was up next to try and fire one home but the ball flew over the bar. Danny Watson was shown a yellow card in the 9th minute for a dangerous tackle.

Dan Green made a vital save in the 12th minute denying Craige Tomkins of a goal when he headed the ball down towards the line from a free kick.

A similar event happened at the other end of the pitch only minutes later when Dave Murphy headed Draycott’s free kick into the hands of Paul McCarthy.

Uxbridge scored in the 17th minute when Chris Moore played the ball through to Kevin Warner however he was offside and the goal was disallowed.

Leighton had to make an early substitution brining on Harvey-Bailey Irving in the 20th minute, when Robbie Goodman went down clutching his ankle and had to be carried off the pitch.

Uxbridge's first corner of the game didn't come until 30th minute and was cleared easily by Leighton's defence. Subsequently their second corner came shortly after and Alvin Rajaram was waiting at the near post to clear the danger.

The handbags came out between Rajaram and Tomkins in the 41st minute when it looked like Rajaram had sustained a head injury. However the referee controlled the situation well but ended up booking Warner rather than Tomkins.

Uxbridge kicked off the second half and immediately bombarded Green with numerous shots, which he managed to save up until the 51st minute.

Matt Woods and Moore both seemed to be offside but with no flag up they continued to run towards goal. With Green out of his goal and only Rajaram chasing up the rear Woods had no trouble putting the ball into the back of the net, sending Uxbridge into the lead.

Leighton fought back hard coming so close to scoring but just couldn't finish to equalise. However in the 61st minute the hard worked paid off, as a ball from Rajaram was chested down by Draycott to the feet of Mark Bunker. He walked his way round McCarthy and sent the ball into the corner of the net, making it 1-1.

Murphy was shown a yellow card in the 64th minute for taking down an Uxbridge player, both ended up sprawled on the ground.

Leighton made their second substitution bringing off Warren Garcia for Claude Senla. Mis-communication between Green and Bunker in the 67th minute saw the ball unmanned and Lewis Cole clattered straight into Bunker to try and retrieve it, he was shown a yellow card.

Gary Ridgway cleared the ball off the line in the 75th minute to stop Uxbridge from edging ahead. Some great manoeuvring past 3 Uxbridge payers by Rajaram was wasted when Draycott's cross was too deep for anyone to reach.

Michael Lyon was shown a yellow card in the 80th minute. Green denied Uxbridge of another goal in the 88th minute with a great save in the air from Jake Groves cross.

With only 1 minute left on the clock Warner nearly headed the ball into his own net, but luckily for Uxbridge it went just over and out for a corner. The last kick of the match went in Leighton's favour as they were awarded a free kick.

Green stepped up to take the kick, Lyon controlled the ball well with his feet and crossed the ball to Senla. He managed to the launch the ball towards the goal but no one was there to send it across the line, resulting in the game ending 1-1.

Leighton's next game is at home to Bedford Town on Saturday 20th December, kick off 3pm.

Uxbridge FC

Team- McCarthy, Ayodele, Phillips, Thomas, Wiseman, Carter, Warner Cole, Woods, Moore, Tomkins

Subs- Bates, Dennison, Groves, Wambeek, Pickford

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Bunker, Garcia, Farmer, Lyon, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Senla, Irving, Halai, Tompkins

Attendance- 105

By Hannah Sellman

Too little too late for Leighton

Leighton Town FC 1-3 North Greenford United

With the wind howling and the rain bashing down the conditions couldn't have been worse for the Red Insure Cup Second Round game, but after three postponement on the trot everyone was finally happy to get it played.

Leighton kicked off and were awarded an early free kick when a bad tackle was made on Dave Murphy by Anton Robbinson.

Phil Draycott had a chance at goal with only 4 minutes gone but the head of Michael Kinsella was there to clear the ball away. 

Another chance came for Draycott after some great play between Michael Lyon and Mark Bunker, but Melvin Minter dived to his left making a great save. 

With 23 minutes on the clock a good ball by Jack Hutchinson found Jack Read, who was completely unmarked, Leighton's defence tried to back track to stop the shot but were unsuccessful and Read put North Greenford into a 1-0 lead. 

After Leighton's mistake they were determined to equalise and only minutes after, Draycott came close when Minter was out of his goal but his shot was just over the bar. 

All was not lost for Leighton though when they were awarded a penalty. Draycott was taken down in the box by Minter and straight away the referee pointed to the spot. However it was too good to be true because the lino had flagged for offside and the referee took back his penalty decision.

Claude Senla received a yellow card after committing a foul on Andrew Maniton in the 27th minute. 

Leighton came close once again to scoring when Draycott fired the ball home but it was cleared of the line, the ball found the head of Robbie Goodman who tried to head it past the post but it hit the post and Minter collected the ball for a goal kick.

With only 2 minutes left of the first half Minter was caught time wasting and Leighton were awarded a free kick right in front of the goal. The North Greenford wall stood strong and Draycott's free kick was cleared by the shin of Robbinson. 

Before the half time whistle could be blown Ash Farmer received a yellow card. It was still all to play for in the second half for Leighton, with their numerous chances now behind them it was time to pull something out of the bag.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half North Greenford kept breaking through Leighton's defence only to be flagged offside by the lino.

A corner for Leighton in the 59th minute finally saw them equalise. Draycott curled the ball in and Senla headed the ball down and into the back of the net, making it 1-1. 

Danny Watson found himself one on one with Minter soon after the goal, but Watson hesitated and Minter managed to push the ball out as far as Senla, who took an off balance shot. 

The 66th minute saw Hutchinson take an awarded free kick, Ross Tompkins came out to stop the ball but he mishandled it on the ground and Maniton snatched the ball away with his feet and put North Greenford 2-1 up. 

Leighton made their first substitution of the game bringing off Alvin Rajaram for Chris Cook in the 70th minute. 

A much needed tackle was made by Farmer on Hutchinson in the 75th minute as he bounded on towards the goal looking unstoppable. 

Farmer was substituted off in the 77th minute to make way for returning player Warren Garcia. 

North Greenford were searching for that 3rd goal in the 80th minute when Hutchinson struck the ball and Tompkins managed to push it against the post and out for a corner. Draycott received a yellow card for taking down a player. 

Leighton's final substitution took place in the 81st minute, with Lyon being replaced with Irving. 

Garcia played a lovely ball through to Bunker, it bobbled up in front of him but he controlled it well to find Watson who's shot was just wide of the post.

Once again Leighton were caught unawares in the 87th minute. Hutchinson ran past everyone and crossed the ball into Read who struck the ball with power and it went flying through Tompkins legs, making it 3-1.

2 minutes into injury time, Kinsella was shown a yellow card after fouling Senla. Leighton were awarded a free kick and Draycott stepped up to the ball, at first it was cleared but only as far as Gary Ridgway who managed to play the ball back in, straight across the goal with no one there to nudge it across the line.

Congratulations to North Greenford United, good luck in the next round of the Red Insure Cup.

Leighton's next game is away to Uxbridge on Saturday 13th December, kick off 3pm. 

North Greenford United

Team- Minter, Robbinson, Maniton, Kinsella, Austin, Gaylor, Mohammed, Mani, Hutchinson, Read, O'Connor

Subs- Ekpiteta, Kransnial

Leighton Town FC

Team- Tompkins, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Farmer, Bunker, Lyon, Senla, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Crook, Green, Lyon, Garcia, Irving 

Attendance- 47

By Hannah Sellman 

Officials cost Leighton the game

Bedworth United 2-1 Leighton Town FC

A welcome sight greeted Leighton when they turned up at The Oval, a brand new 3G pitch and an above average crowd for the game.

With 5 men missing for Leighton and Bedworth sat 2nd in the league, a draw would have been a dream come true.

Bedworth kicked off and straight away Daniel Creaney had a shot at goal but Ross Tompkins managed to convert it out for a corner. 

A cross by Danny Watson in the 17th minute could only find the head of Mark Albrighton but he couldn't quite clear his line as the ball fell to Claude Senla but his shot was off target. 

Play was stopped in the 19th minute as a bad tackle from Luke Rowe on Alvin Rajaram, saw him needing treatment. 

Half way through the first half and Daniel Dubidat had a go at goal but Tompkins caught and held the ball firmly. 

Some great work by Leighton's midfield saw Watson back heel the ball to Phil Draycott and with Denham Hinds out of his goal, he slotted the ball into the back of the net, putting Leighton 1-0 up. 

Alex Naughton managed to find a way past Robbie Goodman in the 39th minute but after all the hard work his shot went well over the bar.

Naughton didn't give up hope and on the stroke of half time he ran rings around Gary Ridgway and found the back of the net, making it 1-1. 

Leighton kicked off the second half looking strong and a ball from Ash Farmer to Senla only just curled outside of the post.

Bedworth were living a charmed life as Leighton had two more chances to score, one from a Draycott free kick which Hinds dived to save and one from a corner which Senla could only head over the bar.

Tompkins managed to save a powerful shot by Naughton with his fingertips in the 53rd minute but it fell for Rowe who walked the ball into the net, putting Bedworth into a 2-1 lead.

The 59th minute saw Tompkins off his line and Leighton's defence were no where to be seen, Rowe slipped past with ease but Rajaram managed to make up enough ground to put him off taking a shot.

Appeals for handball were heard from Leighton only a minute later but the referee dismissed the idea and allowed play to carry on. 

Dave Murphy fired the ball in from long range in the 66th minute and saw Hinds having to jump off his line to make the save. 

Mark Bunker and Albrighton were both shown a yellow card in the 73rd minute for manhandling. Senla had a great chance from the free kick that Leighton were awarded but the referee blew for offside.

The 78th minute saw things get heated when Dubidat and Senla both went for the ball and ended up on their backs, both were shown a yellow card. 

Leighton made their one and only substitution in the 80th minute bringing on Harvey-Bailey Irving for Rajaram. 

Leighton should have been awarded another penalty with only 3 minutes to go. Draycott was taken down in the box and then pushed back down. However the referee pulled out his yellow card and booked Draycott for diving. 

Naughton had a wayward shot at goal for Bedworth in the last minute of the game and Farmer was also shown a yellow card just before the final whistle.

Leighton's next game is at home to North Greenford United on Tuesday 9th December in the Red Insure Cup, kick off 7:45pm.

Leighton Town FC

Team- Tompkins, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Farmer, Bunker, Lyon, Senla, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Irving, Taylor, Green

Bedworth United 

Team- Hinds, Ashmore, Rowe, Creaney, Folkes, Albrighton, Westwoord, Dubidat, Naughton, Steane

Subs- Bevas, Kirby, Yullin, Johnson, Donovan

Attendance- 180 

Bye Hannah Sellman 

Costly mistake sees Leighton lose

Leighton Town FC 0-1 Hanwell Town FC

With Hanwell currently sitting 3rd in the league the game was never going to be easy for Leighton. even though the two sets of players had met on numerous occasions before.

Hanwell kicked off and Eoin Casey had a go at goal in the 1st minute but it fell straight into Dan Green's hands. 

It was noticed by many of the Leighton supporters that Hanwell's keeper Alex Tokarczyk seemed to be moving uneasily and when his kicks didn't reach the half way line it confirmed the speculation. 

A searching ball from Mark Bunker in the 15th minute saw the hand of Tokarczyk convert it out for Leightons first corner of the game. 

Chris Crook was shown a yellow card for his first offence after pulling a Hanwell player back by his shirt in the 17th minute. 

Tom Kennedy nearly put Danny Watson's cross into the back of the net in the 29th minute but luckily for Hanwell it stayed out.

Tokarczyk denied Leighton of a goal in the 35th minute when he managed to clear the ball of the line twice, one from the head of Michael Lyon.

Moments before half time Leighton were awarded a corner, but Christian Lester could only send the ball flying over the bar before the whistle was blown.  

One change was made for Leighton during halftime, a limping Lester was replaced by Claude Senla. The start of the second half saw Hanwell have 3 superb shots at goal, within the first 5 minutes. 

A mistake by Robbie Goodman in the 55th minute saw Bill Healy take a shot at goal, but Green stuck his leg out saving the shot with his foot. 

Phil Draycott was shown a yellow card for taking down Billy Adock who made a miraculous recovery.

A lovely strike by Lyon saw Tokarczyk dive for the ball, but he couldn't keep hold of it leaving it for both Watson and Senla to try and score, but the referee blew his whistle for offside. 

The 72nd minute saw Green miss kick the ball not once but twice, it fell to the feet of Michael Buckley who struck the ball hard and Bill Healey flicked the ball into the net sending Hanwell into a 1-0 lead. 

Alvin Rajaram received a yellow card in the 80th minute along with Oliver Duffy. 

A scrambled but crucial save was made by Green with only 8 minutes left on the clock. Shouts from Hanwell could be heard saying the ball had crossed the line but no goal was given and the score remained 1-0 to Hanwell. 

Leightons second substitution saw Tyrone Taylor replaced with Ash Farmer. 

Two consecutive fouls from Michael Buckley really summed up the game for Leighton in the 85th minute. First he took down Farmer and then shortly after Rajaram and yet Buckley was still never shown a yellow card.

Leighton's final substitution saw Lyon replaced with Aaron Morgan. 

A 92nd minute shot was Gary Ridgway's last chance to try and earn Leighton that all important equaliser but Tokarczyk saved the strike well.

Leightons next game is away to North Greenford in the second round of the Red Insure Cup on Tuesday 2nd December, kick off 7:45pm (weather permitting). 

Hanwell Town FC

Team- Tokarczyk, Kennedy, Watson, Bywater, Duffy, Inch, Adcock, Buckley, Healey, Casey, Smith

Subs- Otira, Duffy, Vincent, Olufemi

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Taylor, Bunker, Lyon, Lester, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Senla, Halai, Farmer, Irving, Morgan

Attendance- 82

By Hannah Sellman 

Leighton leave it too late to catch Rugby

Rugby Town FC 2-1 Leighton Town FC

It's been 10 days since we last saw a game of football and it was time for Leighton to take on Rugby, who during the week lost their top goal scorer to Kettering.  

2 players were unavailable and with Craig Bicknell off enjoying a holiday, it was down to Jon Reed to lead the team to victory. 

With dark clouds looming overhead Leighton kicked off the first half looking strong. Danny Watson gave away a silly free kick pushing Mason Rowley off the ball to try and win an early corner. 

A great header by Robbie Goodman in the 8th minute saw a missed chance for Aaron Morgan as the ball didn't fall for him in time. 

Justin Marsden found himself with the ball and completely unmarked in the 10th minute but he miss hit the ball and ended up going down injured.

In the 22nd minute Michael Lyon took a shot at goal after he received the ball from Watson, the ball ricocheted off the Rugby defence and landed at Christian Lester's feet, he struck the ball from 20 yards out and scored a cracking goal, putting Leighton 1-0 up.

31 minutes gone and Mark Bunker nearly scored an own goal for Rugby after Marsden played the ball into the box. The looming clouds finally burst and Butlin Road was the feature of a heavy down pour, which made the conditions on the pitch change and the game more interesting. 

With only 5 minutes of the first half remaining Lewis Rankin and Craig Kelly worked together well to win a corner. The ball landed at Richard Blythe feet, he struck the ball powerfully, hit the inside of the far post and the ball landed in the back of the net, making it 1-1.

Phil Draycott tried to put Leighton back into the lead before half time, but his shot scrapped just over the bar. 

Rugby kicked off the second half with a bang, from the word go Sam Youngs hit the post, Marsden controlled the ricocheted and took a shot at goal but Dan Green spread his body to stop it from crossing the line. 

End to end action then saw Watson have a chance of scoring but Richard Morris dived to block the shot. 

Things got heated in the 52nd minute when Bunker slid in to get the ball from Youngs, both were shown a yellow card as was Will Grocott who got caught up in the moment. 

Watson found himself with the ball in the 56th minute with no one but Morris in front of him. He made his way towards him but failed to score. Morgan, who had made the run into the box to support Watson, obtained the ball but his shot was then cleared off the line.

The 65th minute saw Lester leave his foot in on a tackle in the box and although Rugby did not react, the referee awarded them a penalty. Youngs stepped up to the spot and launched the ball into the top left hand corner, out of Greens reach, sending Rugby 2-1 up. 

Leighton made their first substitution bringing off Lyon for Ash Farmer. Shouts for a penalty were heard from Leighton in the 70th minute when Draycott was pushed over in the box but the referee dismissed the idea. 

Another spectacular shot by Lester in the 73rd minute saw Morris get a hand to the ball to convert it out for a corner. 

Green stopped yet another shot by Youngs to deny Rugby from venturing further into the lead.  A wayward but powerful shot by Mitchell Piggon saw him knock down one of his own supporters in the stand in the 82nd minute. 

Tyrone Taylor found himself in a tricky situation, when he was surrounded by 3 Rugby men but he managed to take a low shot at goal, but it was easily gathered by Morris. 

With 89 minutes on the clock Piggon went down injured after making a great run towards goal but pulling up short holding his hamstring. Play was stopped while the stretcher was brought on, but he managed to hobble off before play resumed. 

Leighton made their second substitution bringing off Morgan for Irving, in injury time, when the whistle finally blew after 6 added minutes. 

Leightons next game is away to North Greenford in the second round of the Red Insure Cup on Tuesday 25th November, kick off 7:45pm. 

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Lester, Taylor, Lyon, Morgan, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Farmer, Tompkins, Irving, Halai

Rugby Town FC

Team- Morris, George, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger, Grocott, Banks, Blythe, Rankin, Marsen, Youngs

Subs- Piggon, Austin, Bishop

Attendance- 195

By Hannah Sellman 

Progression for Leighton in the County Cup

Leighton Town FC 1-0 Biggleswade United

A change to the starting line up for Leighton had to be made before the game as Danny Watson pulled up injured in the warm up, he was replaced by Christian Lester. A new signing also appeared on the bench for Leighton, Harvey-Bailey Irving, who had been spotted watching some of the games this season.

Biggleswade kicked off and with a free kick being awarded in the first few minutes it looked like it was going to be a disjointed game. Will Wright was the man to take the kick but it he kicked it straight out. 

Leighton had their first corner in the 6th minute but Rui Goncalves had no trouble catching the ball from the kick. A chance for Gary Ridgway came in the 10th minute when the ball was set up for him by Phil Draycott but once again Goncalves wasn't troubled. 

The 20th minute saw Goncalves pick up the ball from a pass back and Leighton were awarded a free kick, however Draycott wasted the chance hammering the ball straight into the wall. 

Leighton continued to have numerous chances at goal, building their way up getting closer and closer only to be denied by Biggleswade's defence.

A dodgy kick by Dan Green nearly saw ex-Leighton player Jason Darvall end up with the ball, but thankfully Leighton were able to recover themselves quickly from the mistake. 

Dave Murphy was shown a yellow card in the 37th minute for a bad tackle. A chance for Mark Bunker to send Leighton into the lead came in the 39th minute when his shot was pushed over the bar by the fingertips of Goncalves. 

Finally in the 43rd minute Morgan managed to scramble past the defence and the keeper to find Lester, who put Leighton 1-0 up. 

With the second half under way Stuart Richardson went one on one with Green and fancied his chances at a goal, but Green was quick to react diving to the left saving the ball and sending it out for a corner. 

55 minutes in and with only Morgan in the box, Lester crossed the ball to him, but he couldn't jump high enough to head it home and ended up getting tangled in the net. 

Michael Lyon was replaced by new signing Irving in the 56th minute. Once again Bunker had a shot at goal but the ball was pushed over by Goncalves. Draycott took the awarded corner but it flew straight across the goal mouth with know one there to tap it in. 

Leighton could have had a second goal from a Draycott corner in the 74th minute but Biggleswade managed to pull themselves together and clear the ball after a time. 

Murphy was replaced by Alvin Rajaram in the 75th minute due to the fact he was already on a yellow card and a warning. The 80th minute saw Rajaram make a terrific run to stop Sam Nair from reaching the box. 

A well thought out stop by Green in the 83rd minute stopped Jude Eboji in his tracks and any chance of Biggleswade from getting a goal in the closing stages. The last minute of the match saw Ridgway receive a yellow card for Leighton. 

Leighton will now face Arlesey Town FC in the next round of the Beds Senior Cup.

Leighton's next game is away to North Greenford in round two of the Red Insure League Cup on Tuesday 18th November, kick off 7:45pm. 

Biggleswade United

Team- Goncalves, O' Neill, Darvall, Wright, Randall, Bilcock, Murray, Richardson, Chisholm, Boyd, Cookman

Subs- Nair, Cole, Carbon, Eboji, Russell

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Taylor, Farmer, Lyon, Morgan, Lester, Draycott

Subs- Rajaram, Irving, Tompkins 

Attendance- 54

By Hannah Sellman