Leighton's winning ways halted against high flying Bedworth

Leighton Town FC 0-2 Bedworth United

With two wins under their belt, Leighton went into the game with their heads held high. However with Bedworth currently sat second in the table it wasn't going to be a walk in the park for Leighton.

Bedworth kicked off and Leighton worked well to win the ball back. They had their first chance of scoring when Christian Lester played the ball straight across the goal and past the post 5 minutes in. 

It wasn't long before Tyrone Taylor tested out his long throw's on Denham Hinds. With the ball reaching the box Hinds came for it only to collide with Lester allowing the ball to fall for Phil Draycott who skied it over the bar. 

Alex Naughton's game was short lived for Bedworth when he hobbled off the pitch with an ankle injury in the 25th minute.

With Bedworth down to 10 men it seemed to confuse Leighton and they were sleeping at the back. Daniel Creaney made his way past Taylor and slotted the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-0 to Bedworth.

Lester had a chance to equalise but his shot was more like a pass back into the hands of Hinds. Leighton were lucky not to go 2-0 down in the 42nd minute, when Daniel Dubidat walked all over Leighton's defence, but he miss kicked his shot and Zaki Oualah gathered it with ease. 

With only seconds before half time it was handbags at dawn and the game became out of hand, with punches being thrown. After a discussion took place between the officials it was decided that Draycott and Peter Folkes would receive yellow cards.

The game restarted and straight away Aaron Morgan was fouled by Ben Steane who was shown a yellow card. It was far from over for the yellow cards when right before the half time whistle Alvin Rajaram was added to the book for kicking the ball away. 

With the second half finally underway, Bedworth were keen to get the ball past Oualah again and came close twice in two minutes with both shot being taken by Creaney.

The yellow card appeared yet again for Leighton, this time for Michael Lyon in the 51st minute. Leighton's first substitution saw Claude Senla come on for Ash Farmer. 

Bedworth managed to earn themselves a corner in the 58th minute and they didn't disappoint. With no one on the back post and Oualah no where to be seen, Dubidat put the ball in the net. 

Danny Watson received a yellow card in the 61st minute for not keeping his mouth shut when he was told to. Rajaram picked up an injury only moments later and Chris Crook took his place. 

A cracking pass by Taylor found an unmarked Watson but he hesitated, losing the ball. But luckily Lyon was there to win the ball back and earned himself a free kick. 

After only being on the pitch for seven minutes Crook received a yellow card for pulling back a player. A great save by Oualah denied Dubidat a brace and what could have been a third goal for Bedworth.

With 4 bookings already it was no surprise when the referee reached into his pocket to show Lester a yellow card in the 74th minute. Leighton's final substitution saw Aaron Morgan replaced with Remy Forrester. 

Lyon hit the woodwork in the 77th minute and it wasn't long before Watson came close but his shot was just wide and he hit the post. A last minute save by Oualah yet again denied Dubidat of a goal.

This result and the fact that Beaconsfield beat Barton 4-2 today, see's Leighton slip down to 20th in the league table.

Leighton's next game is away to Kettering on Tuesday 3rd March, kick off 7:45pm. 

Bedworth United

Team- Hinds, Ashmore, Rowe, Creaney, Westwood, Tullin, Folkes, Steane, Naughton, Dubidat, Degville-Cross

Subs- Cartwright, Blenkinsopp, Robinson, Donovan

Leighton Town

Team- Oualah, M. Lyon, Ridgway, Goodman, Rajaram, Taylor, Farmer, Morgan, Lester, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Senla, Green, Crook, Flux, Forrester 

Attendance- 102

By Hannah Sellman 

Outstanding performance puts points on the board for Leighton

Northwood FC 0-4 Leighton Town FC

With Craig Bicknell attending to family business, Jon Reed took the helm. Remy Forrester finally made his debut appearance after signing for Leighton 2 weeks ago and what a game it was. 

A much needed shake up to the starting line up saw Leighton kick off looking the better side. However it was Northwood's Niko Muir who had the first shot of the game in the 9th minute but there was no need to panic.

Play was stopped in the 16th minute when one of the officials noticed the net had come away from the goal post, so a repair job was needed before play resumed.

Leighton kept firing the ball at Berkley Laurencin hoping at least one of their shots would cause him to make a mistake. 

Claude Senla's shot went just wide of the post in the 20th minute and Phil Draycott's low shot was easily stopped moments later.

The tables turned quickly and Michael Murray came close to putting Northwood in front but his shot went wide. 

Thankfully for Leighton, Andy Lomas's defensive mistake allowed Christian Lester to break free of the pack in the 28th minute and found the head of Senla who headed the ball home, making it 1-0. 

Northwood could have drawn level with Leighton in the 33rd minute, when Nana Asamoah's powerful shot was just inches wide.

36 minutes gone and as Tyrone Taylor passed the ball to Lester, no one would have expected what happened next. Lester chested the ball down to the ground and fired the ball towards the goal. It dipped down just in time and hit the back of the net, making it 2-0.

With the second half underway, Alvin Rajaram was shown a yellow card in the 50th minute for a high foot. Some excellent play between Senla and Lester set Draycott up well for Leighton's third goal in the 65th minute. 

Draycott went one on one with Laurencin and managed to nip past him to slot the ball across the line and make it 3-0 to Leighton.

Leighton made their first substitution immediately after the goal bringing off Aaron Morgan for Billy Lobjoit and with not much action happening Leighton decided to bring off Lester for Danny Watson.

Lyon was shown a yellow card in the 72nd minute for his first foul of the game. Draycott fancied his chances in the 76th minute, with a powerful shot that stung Laurencin's hands. 

With only 7 minutes of play remaining, Lobjoit played the ball right across the goal to Senla, who was waiting at the far post, his shot powered across the line, earning himself a brace and Leighton a well deserved fourth goal. 

Northwood came close to getting a consolation goal when substitute Ismael Ehut played the ball straight across the goal but no one was around to tap it across the line. 

Again Northwood tried to pull at least one goal back, when Muir went wide of the post in stoppage time, but luckily it wasn't to be. Leighton made their final substitution brining off Senla for Steve Flux.

Overall a throughly deserved win for Leighton and enough points and goal difference to boast them back up to 19th in the league. 

Leighton's next game is away to Hanwell Town FC on Tuesday 24th February, kick off 7:45pm. 

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, M. Lyon, Forrester, Goodman, Rajaram, Taylor, Farmer, Morgan, Lester, Senla, Draycott

Subs- Flux, Green, Ridgway, Lobjoit, Watson

Northwood FC

Team- Laurncin, Vassell, Lomas, M. Burgess, Longe-King, Dicker, Ehut, J. Burgess,  Muir, Murray, Asamoah

Subs- Lawai, Nolan, Hastings, Lawrence, Ehvi 

Attendance- 118 

By Hannah Sellman 

Leighton slip to 20th in the league

Leighton Town FC 1-3 Rugby Town FC

Leighton played Rugby back in November and lost the game in the 65th minute, when Christian Lester gave away a penalty. It was time for Leighton to get their revenge and with Rugby sat 4th in the league it was never going to be easy.

Leighton kicked off looking stronger than they did midweek, with Billy Lobjoit back and a few players in different positions. 

It was Rugby who could have taken the lead in the 3rd minute however, when Richard Gregory struck the ball, from what looked like an offside position, but the flag stayed down and Zaki Oualah came for the ball.

Oualah then had to make 3 consecutive saves to stop Rugby from getting that early lead. Leighton had their first corner in the 14th minute but it mounted to nothing.

Mason Rowley stuck his foot out, tripping up Phil Draycott who was charging towards the box and received a yellow card. Lobjoit stepped up to take the free kick and went for a shot, which was well wide.

Shouts for a penalty were heard for Rugby's Gregory in the 24th minute but play continued without question. With no penalty given Leighton charged to the other end of the pitch and finally managed to put the ball in the back of the net.

Lester made a great cross to find the feet of Danny Watson in the box and he calmly worked his way round Richard Morris, who made a grab for the ball but failed to hold it, allowing Watson to slot it into the net, putting Leighton into the lead, 1-0.

Gregory came close for Rugby again when Oualah managed to grab the ball before it crossed the line in the 38th minute. It looked like Leighton were going to go 2-0 up just before half time, when the ball fell for Draycott, but he welted the ball over the bar. 

Mark Bunker received a yellow card in the 51st minute when he brought down ex-Leighton player Lewis McBride. The 54th minute saw Justin Marsden make way for Seb Lake-Gaskin and straight away the pace of the game picked up.

An unstoppable 18 yard shot from Sam Youngs, drew Rugby level in the 55th minute and only 2 minutes later, after Lester received a yellow card, Robbie Burns made it 2-1 when a low shot from Youngs was parried.

Leighton made their first substation bringing off Gary Ridgway and welcoming back Alvin Rajaram onto the pitch after his knee operation. 

Rugby received a free kick just outside the box in the 60th minute after Michael Lyon committed a foul and was shown a yellow card. 

Rajaram had a great shot but was denied a goal by Morris's hand and cleared quickly but Alex Gudger. Play was paused in the 64th minute when the oppositions supporters decided to throw an unravelled toilet roll onto the pitch to distract Oualah. 

The 74th minute sealed the deal for Rugby when Oualah made a grab for the ball but couldn't reach it and allowed Gregory to run past him and squeeze the ball into the net at an angle, making it 3-1. 

Leighton made their second substitution brining off Tyrone Taylor for Claude Senla. Rugby kept firing the ball at Oualah hoping he'd make a mistake but he stood strong, saving shots from Ben George and Lake-Gaskin with ease. 

A final substitution for Leighton saw Lester replaced with Ash Farmer. Substitute Fazil Koriya tried to lob the ball over Oualah 6 minutes before the end of the game, but thankfully he was off target. A head injury for Leighton's Bunker saw play stopped momentarily so he could be treated.

Lobjoit was shown a yellow card in injury time for kicking the ball away, after Rugby were awarded a free kick from the foul he committed. A last ditch attempt for Leighton came when they won themselves a corner just before the final whistle but once again the ball was cleared well by Ruby's defence.

Leighton's next game is away to North Greenford (weather permitting) on Tuesday 17th February, kick off 7:45pm. 

Rugby Town FC 

Team- Morris, Grocott, George, Rowley, Gudger, Burns, McBride, Blythe, Gregory, Marsden, Youngs

Subs- Rankin, Banks, Lake-Gaskin, Piggon, Koriya

Leighton Town FC 

Team- Oualah, M. Lyon, Ridgway, Crook, Murphy, Taylor, Bunker, Lobjoit, Lester, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Farmer, Goodman, Senla, Rajaram, Morgan

Attendance- 132

By Hannah Sellman 

Bottom of the table battle ends in a draw

Leighton Town FC 1-1 Beaconsfield SYCOB

With the weather finally in everyone's favour, although bitterly cold, the battle to stay 19th in the league kicked off between the two teams. 

Beaconsfield had their first shot 6 minutes in when Victor Osobu came close to putting them in the lead. 

Zaki Oualah managed to send Osobu off balance in the 12th minute and with the goal open, Michael Lyon had to clear the ball of the line. 

Osobu finally got his goal in the 14th minute, when Mark Bunker watched him pass and shoot the ball into the bottom corner of the net, making it 1-0. 

It looked liked Leighton had equalised only a minute later, with the ball seeming to cross the line before it was cleared by Beaconsfield defence, but no goal was given. 

Leighton won a free kick when Billy Lobjoit was obstructed on his way towards goal. Lobjoit stepped up to play the ball and found Danny Watson in the box, who's shot was blocked by Brendan Hazlett's foot to deny him a goal. 

Beaconsfield came close to extending their lead when Aaron Berry struck the ball with power, hitting the post and then Oualah before going out for a corner.

Another clearance off the line, this time by Chris Crook, in the 39th minute stopped Beaconsfield from scoring yet again. 

Some good defending by Robbie Goodman stopped Berry and Osobu in their tracks before they had chance to reach the box, just before the half time whistle.

Leighton kicked off the second half but it was Beaconsfield who picked up where they left off, with a good cross from Osobu to find Berry but his shot went right across the goal with no one to tap it in.

The 54th minute saw Crook receive a yellow card for supposedly clattering into Ollie Jones. Leighton made their first substitution moments later bringing off Goodman for Aaron Morgan. 

Some great passing by Tryone Taylor, Lobjoit and Bunker looked like they were setting Leighton up for a goal but they earned themselves a well deserved corner instead.

A second substitution for Leighton saw Michael Lyon make way for Claude Senla. 75 minutes in Lester was taken down in the box, however appeals for a penalty were quickly dismissed by the referee.

Things got heated when Osobu crashed to the ground and Bunker was shown a yellow card as was Romaine Walker. 

Finally in the 80th minute Lobjoit played a fabulous ball into Watson, who headed it across the goal to oncoming Morgan and he nipped the ball across the line, making it 1-1. 

With 4 minutes injury time to play, Crook made a vital clearance when substitute Ashley Kelynach fancied his chance at goal. 

Osobu was completely unmarked and had an open goal but he panicked and his shot went wide. It didn't end there for Beaconsfield either as Jones had a chance to score just before the final whistle, but he skied the ball over the bar. 

Leighton's next game is at home to Marlow on Tuesday 10th February, kick off 7:45pm. 

Beaconsfield SYCOB

Team- Hazlett, Murray, Walker, Guramishvilli, Flegg, Togwell, Ajanzekoko, Carey, Berry, Osobu, Jones

Subs- Gant, Bunting, Martin, Patrick, Kelynach

Leighton Town FC 

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Crook, Taylor, M. Lyon, Lester, Watson, Lobjoit

Subs- Morgan, Green, Senla, P. Lyon, Forrester 

Attendance- 72

By Hannah Sellman