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| Leighton Town FC 0-1 Hanwell Town FC |
By Hannah Sellman
Sunday 30 November 2014
Costly mistake sees Leighton lose
By Hannah Sellman
Saturday 22 November 2014
Leighton leave it too late to catch Rugby
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| 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
Wednesday 12 November 2014
Progression for Leighton in the County Cup
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| Leighton Town FC 1-0 Biggleswade United |
By Hannah Sellman
Saturday 8 November 2014
Leighton fight back with last minute penalty
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| Leighton Town FC 1-1 Barton Rovers FC |
With 6 men missing it was once again a struggle for Craig Bicknell to field a side fit for purpose.
Barton kicked off and won themselves a corner 3 minutes in;
thankfully Dave Murphy was there to head the ball clear. A close shave for
Leighton came when Robbie Goodman stood watching Keshi Anderson with the ball,
luckily it flew straight across the goal and there was no one there to tap it
in.
With only 13 minutes gone Leighton had to make their first
substitution, an injured Claude Senla came off to make way for Ash Farmer. A
chance for Farmer came when Danny Watson found him in the box but as he slide
in the ball went the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick.
Bilal Hassan (ex-Leighton player) was determined to get a
goal and managed to run past Alvin Rajaram but he took the ball one step too
far. Barton were close to scoring in the 20th minute but Mahmut Caglar could
only put it wide of the post.
Paul Lyon was unable to hold the ball up in midfield in the
26th minute and with Leighton's defence all just standing in a line, Ben Sawyer
took a shot at goal, Dan Green got a hand to the ball but not enough to stop it
from crossing the line, putting Barton into a 1-0 lead.
It looked like Leighton had equalised in the 30th minute
with a good cross from Farmer to Watson and into the net but the referee blew
his whistle as the lino flagged that the ball had gone out of play.
Leighton were forced to make another substitution in the
36th minute brining off Paul Lyon for Aaron Morgan.
Once again Leighton were asleep at the back and Sawyer made
his way towards goal, the ball bobbled along the ground to find Hassan but he
missed. Green made a brilliant save denying Barton of a second goal in the 40th
minute, the ball ricocheted back out to Anderson but Chris Crook managed to put
his body in the way of the shot.
With the second half underway Barton nearly found themselves
scoring for Leighton, when a cross from Morgan found Michael Lyon in the box
but was nearly headed in by the Barton defence.
Alex Condon was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute for
Barton. A succession of saves were made by Kyle Forster to keep Leighton at bay
with chances from Phil Draycott, Framer and Watson.
Draycott received a yellow card in the 66th minute for
kicking the ball away. Only moments later Murphy headed the ball against the
cross bar and then headed it straight into Forster hands.
A poor clearance by Murphy saw Sawyer come close to scoring
again but his shot hit the side netting. Draycott hit a super strike in the
82nd minute but it fell wide.
With only 5 minutes remaining it all kicked off, Sawyer hit
the post and then received a yellow card for a bad tackle on Murphy. A chance
for Watson to even the score line took place but he skimmed the ball over the
bar.
Then in the 90th minute Condon was shown a second yellow
card and sent off the pitch for taking down Rajaram in the box. Leighton were
awarded a penalty and Watson didn't disappoint, sending the ball into the back
of the net, making it 1-1.
Farmer was shown a yellow card in injury time for a silly
foul and Murphy hit a powerful shot along the ground for Forster to save before
the final whistle was blown.
Leightons next game is at home to Biggleswade United in the
Beds Senior Cup on Tuesday 11th November, kick off 7:45pm.
Barton Rovers
Team- Forster, Condon, Dhillon, Gatti, Andrews, Kilroy,
Sawyer, Lee, Caglar, Anderson, Hassan
Subs- McDent, Vincent, Keating, Ottaway, Young
Leighton Town FC
Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Murphy, P.
Lyon, M. Lyon, Senla, Watson, Draycott
Subs- Morgan, Farmer, Halia
Attendance-81
By Hannah Sellman
Wednesday 5 November 2014
Trophy dream falls flat for Leighton
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| Leighton Town FC 2-5 Leiston FC |
Leighton started strong with Mark Bunker winning a free kick with 3 minutes on the clock, but the body of Stuart Boardley defended the good strike by Michael Lyon easily.
Dave Murphy came close again for Leighton when Phil Draycott played in the ball from yet another free kick but it went just wide of the post.
7 minutes in and Danny Watson spotted Danny Gay off his line, he ran towards him, sending him off balance and walked the ball into the net putting Leighton into a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short lived when in the 9th minute Chris Crook was unable to stop Leon Ottley-Gooch's shot and Leiston drew level.
Dan Green made a silly mistake trying to kick the ball down the field and Conor Hubble took advantage of his mistake sending the ball flying into the net, putting them 2-1 up after 13 minutes.
Leighton tried to claw another goal back quickly, Bunker crossed the ball into the box and found the head of Alvin Rajaram, but the ball went straight into Gay's hands.
Leighton continued to close down the ball and when Watson headed the ball straight to Draycott's feet, it looked like they were in for a goal, but the ball skimmed just over the bar.
34 minutes in and Green made a brilliant diving save to deny Leiston of a goal but all his hard work was undone when he went to stop Joe Francis in his tacks and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Gareth Heath stepped up to the spot, Green dived the correct way but Heath's shot was low and hard finding the back of the net easily. A foul was committed on Rajaram just before halt time, resulting in a yellow card for Boardley.
With the second half underway it wasn't long before Leiston were pushing for another goal. A shot from Ottley-Gooch was pushed over the bar and out for a corner by Green.
Handball by Bunker straight from the corner was given by the referee and Heath once again was on hand to send the ball into the corner of the net, this time sending Green the wrong way, making it 4-1 to Leiston after 48 minutes.
A double substitution for Leighton took place in the 55th minute bringing off Bunker and Michael Lyon, for Ash Farmer and Aaron Morgan.
A good ball in by Draycott found the fresh legs of Farmer, he struck the ball and it curved towards Gay and but was easily saved. A vital move by Crook stopped Joe Francis in his tracks towards goal saving what could have been a potential 5th goal for Leiston.
Leighton made their final substitution in the 64th minute bringing off Gary Ridgway for Paul Lyon.
71 minutes in and it looked like Draycott had scored from a free kick but the ball had fallen just wide of the post and landed in the side netting. With Leiston 4-1 up it didn't get any better for Leighton when Rajaram was shown a yellow card.
Leighton were awarded a free kick for hand ball in the 80th minute and Draycott's shot was pushed just over the bar by Gay.
Leighton were left stranded in the 82nd minute when Tom Winter was completely unmarked and his beautifully struck ball went straight into the back of the net, making it 5-1 to Leiston.
With only 4 minutes remaining Rajaram managed to win a penalty in the box for Leighton, Blake Saker was shown his second yellow card of the game and was sent off the pitch. Watson stepped up to the ball sending his shot low and hard into the back of the net.
A last ditch attempt for just one more goal came from a Morgan cross into Watson but he could only hit the side netting, leaving the game to end 5-2 to Leiston.
We wish Leiston the best of luck in the next round and for the rest of the season.
Leightons next game is at home to Barton Rovers on Saturday 8th November, kick off 3pm.
Leiston FC
Team- Gay, Saker, Boardley, Mitchell, Jefford, Tann, Winter, Heath, Ottley-Gouch, Hubble, Francis
Subs- Merritt, Velzian, Block, Rossis
Leighton Town FC
Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Murphy, Bunker, M. Lyon, Taylor, Watson, Draycott
Subs- P. Lyon, Morgan, Farmer, Halia, Thompkins
Attendance-90
By Hannah Sellman
Sunday 2 November 2014
Leighton bring Leiston home
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| Leiston FC 2-2 Leighton Town FC |
Leighton looked thin on the ground with only one main substitute on the
bench, but Craig Bicknell managed to field a decent team nevertheless.
Leiston kicked off but were soon dispossessed by Leighton. Danny Watson
managed to find his wingman Phil Draycott who took Danny Gay by surprise, when
he fired the ball at him, he misjudged the powerful kick and the ball flew into
the net, putting Leighton 1-0 with only 40 seconds on the clock.
A timely interception by Scott Mitchell saw Watsons ball to Mark Bunker
cleared before any real damage could be done. A brilliant tackle by Alvin
Rajaram in the 12th minute was deemed dangerous by the official running the
line and was shown a yellow card.
Stuart Broadley took the awarded free kick and Dan Green made a super
save. Leighton could have been 2-0 up with only 15 minutes gone but the flag
was up for offside as Bunker popped the ball into the net.
A foul on Rajaram saw Leighton win a free kick and Gay had to make a
diving save to stop Draycotts' ball from crossing the line, but it wasn't long
before a second goal came for Leighton.
A Tyrone Taylor header saw the ball go straight into the back of the
net, putting Leighton into a 2-0 lead. Robbie Goodman received a yellow for
Leighton in the 27th minute.
29 minutes in and Michael Lyon was given enough space to run wild, he
managed to slow down and cross the ball to Watson but his shot was just wide.
Miscommunication between Green and Chris Crook saw a dangerous lob from
Tom Winter in the 43rd minute thankfully the ball slid over the bar.
Leighton kicked off the second half and earn themselves a free kick in
the 48th minute. The ball was cleared off the line and fell straight to Bunker
but his shot curved wide.
A corner for Leiston saw a good header away by Dave Murphy but Joe
Francis was able to steal the ball back and have a shot at goal, luckily Green
was alert and saved the strike.
The 63rd minute saw Leiston pull back a goal, when Goodman handled the
ball just outside the box. Conor Hubble stepped up to take the free kick, Green
managed to save but not hold the ball and it fell for Scott Mitchell who made
it 2-1.
An awful tackle on Watson saw all three of the officials onto the pitch
to calm down the situation. Joe Jefford received a yellow card for the studs up
challenge on Watson, but then to everyones amazement Watson was also shown a
yellow as was Bunker for retaliating.
The 78th minute saw Gareth Heath get that all-important second goal for
Leiston to draw level. He fired the ball low and hard into the back of the net;
leaving Leighton sprawled on the floor.
A great stop by Gay denied Draycott of a goal and the tables soon changed,
as it was Leon Ottley-Gooch who charged towards goal with his shot only just
clearing the bar.
2 minutes remained and Leighton made their one and only substitution
brining on Ash Farmer for Bunker.
A last ditch attempt for Leighton to win came in injury time when Lyon
played the ball through to Watson but he was caught offside and the game ended
2-2.
The replay will take place at Bell Close on Tuesday 4th November, kick
off 7:45pm, if the game is a draw after full time then, extra time and then
penalties will be played.
Leighton Town FC
Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Murphy,
Bunker, Lyon, Taylor, Watson, Draycott
Subs- Farmer, Halia, Thompkins
Leiston FC
Team- Gay, Saker, Boardley, Mitchell, Jefford, Tann,
Henry, Heath, Winter, Hubble, Francis
Subs- Merritt, Ottley-Gouch, Noy, Block, Rossis
Attendance- 166
By Hannah Sellman
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