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