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