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