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