Valuable point keeps Leighton afloat

Leighton Town FC 1-1 Aylesbury FC

With rumours that Aylesbury had several players out due to injury, it looked like Leighton might have the upper hand going into the game with a full squad. 

Leighton had an early chance but Danny Watson's header went just wide of the post and it wasn't long before Aylesbury took the reins. 

They had a chance just minutes later, but the ball bobbled up in front of Bradley Wadkins and Zaki Oualah was there to catch it. 

Michael Lyon did well to win the ball from Lynton Goss in the 12th minute and once again Leighton came close but when the ball fell to the feet of Billy Lobjoit he skied it over the bar. 

Finally after numerous chances Leighton put the ball into the back of the net, when Mark Bunker caught James Weatherill off his line and lobbed the ball over his head, making it 1-0 with 20 minutes on the clock.

Good fortune for Leighton didn't last long however as Aylesbury equalised only 16 minutes later. Wadkins managed work round Alvin Rajaram to hit a low powerful shot that Oulalah couldn't quite reach.

Aylesbury had their first corner in the 42 minute and Oulalah did well to punch the ball clear for Tyrone Taylor to boot it down the pitch.

With the second half underway and not much action to write home about, the game became quite scrappy and un-entertaining. 

The first real action happened in the 60th minute when Aylesbury's Aston Goss (ex-Leighton player) hassled Lobjoit and had a clear run towards goal, he struck the ball hard but Oulalah gathered it with ease. 

Leighton made two late substitution's one in the 80th minute, Ash Farmer replacing goal scorer Bunker and the second in he 82nd minute when Phil Draycott made way for Claude Senla. 

With 90 minutes on the clock substitute Gareth Price played the ball straight across goal, some confusion between Rajaram and Oualah could have allowed a goal to be scored but thankfully Oualah managed to keep the ball under control.

Leighton's next game is on Saturday 21st March away to St Ives Town, kick off 3pm.

Aylesbury FC

Team- Weatherill, A. Goss, Murphy, D. Haule, Anthony, Prosper, O' Toole, Deeney, B. Haule, Wadkins, L. Goss

Subs- Price, Jackson, McLachlan, Bateman, Logie

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, M. Lyon, Ridgway, Goodman, Rajaram, Crook, Taylor, Bunker, B. Lobjoit, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Murphy, Forrester, Morgan, Farmer, Senla 

Attendance- 91

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 

Bunker earns valuable point for Leighton

Uxbridge FC 1-1 Leighton Town FC

Leighton hit the road again this weekend and made the journey to Uxbridge who currently sit 15th in the league on 25 points after 19 games.

With players still missing Leighton were once again lacking on the bench but they kicked off strongly with Ash Farmer having a shot 2 minutes in.

Phil Draycott was up next to try and fire one home but the ball flew over the bar. Danny Watson was shown a yellow card in the 9th minute for a dangerous tackle.

Dan Green made a vital save in the 12th minute denying Craige Tomkins of a goal when he headed the ball down towards the line from a free kick.

A similar event happened at the other end of the pitch only minutes later when Dave Murphy headed Draycott’s free kick into the hands of Paul McCarthy.

Uxbridge scored in the 17th minute when Chris Moore played the ball through to Kevin Warner however he was offside and the goal was disallowed.

Leighton had to make an early substitution brining on Harvey-Bailey Irving in the 20th minute, when Robbie Goodman went down clutching his ankle and had to be carried off the pitch.

Uxbridge's first corner of the game didn't come until 30th minute and was cleared easily by Leighton's defence. Subsequently their second corner came shortly after and Alvin Rajaram was waiting at the near post to clear the danger.

The handbags came out between Rajaram and Tomkins in the 41st minute when it looked like Rajaram had sustained a head injury. However the referee controlled the situation well but ended up booking Warner rather than Tomkins.

Uxbridge kicked off the second half and immediately bombarded Green with numerous shots, which he managed to save up until the 51st minute.

Matt Woods and Moore both seemed to be offside but with no flag up they continued to run towards goal. With Green out of his goal and only Rajaram chasing up the rear Woods had no trouble putting the ball into the back of the net, sending Uxbridge into the lead.

Leighton fought back hard coming so close to scoring but just couldn't finish to equalise. However in the 61st minute the hard worked paid off, as a ball from Rajaram was chested down by Draycott to the feet of Mark Bunker. He walked his way round McCarthy and sent the ball into the corner of the net, making it 1-1.

Murphy was shown a yellow card in the 64th minute for taking down an Uxbridge player, both ended up sprawled on the ground.

Leighton made their second substitution bringing off Warren Garcia for Claude Senla. Mis-communication between Green and Bunker in the 67th minute saw the ball unmanned and Lewis Cole clattered straight into Bunker to try and retrieve it, he was shown a yellow card.

Gary Ridgway cleared the ball off the line in the 75th minute to stop Uxbridge from edging ahead. Some great manoeuvring past 3 Uxbridge payers by Rajaram was wasted when Draycott's cross was too deep for anyone to reach.

Michael Lyon was shown a yellow card in the 80th minute. Green denied Uxbridge of another goal in the 88th minute with a great save in the air from Jake Groves cross.

With only 1 minute left on the clock Warner nearly headed the ball into his own net, but luckily for Uxbridge it went just over and out for a corner. The last kick of the match went in Leighton's favour as they were awarded a free kick.

Green stepped up to take the kick, Lyon controlled the ball well with his feet and crossed the ball to Senla. He managed to the launch the ball towards the goal but no one was there to send it across the line, resulting in the game ending 1-1.

Leighton's next game is at home to Bedford Town on Saturday 20th December, kick off 3pm.

Uxbridge FC

Team- McCarthy, Ayodele, Phillips, Thomas, Wiseman, Carter, Warner Cole, Woods, Moore, Tomkins

Subs- Bates, Dennison, Groves, Wambeek, Pickford

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Bunker, Garcia, Farmer, Lyon, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Senla, Irving, Halai, Tompkins

Attendance- 105

By Hannah Sellman

Leighton fight back with last minute penalty

Leighton Town FC 1-1 Barton Rovers FC

With 6 men missing it was once again a struggle for Craig Bicknell to field a side fit for purpose. 

Barton kicked off and won themselves a corner 3 minutes in; thankfully Dave Murphy was there to head the ball clear. A close shave for Leighton came when Robbie Goodman stood watching Keshi Anderson with the ball, luckily it flew straight across the goal and there was no one there to tap it in.

With only 13 minutes gone Leighton had to make their first substitution, an injured Claude Senla came off to make way for Ash Farmer. A chance for Farmer came when Danny Watson found him in the box but as he slide in the ball went the wrong side of the post and out for a goal kick.

Bilal Hassan (ex-Leighton player) was determined to get a goal and managed to run past Alvin Rajaram but he took the ball one step too far. Barton were close to scoring in the 20th minute but Mahmut Caglar could only put it wide of the post.

Paul Lyon was unable to hold the ball up in midfield in the 26th minute and with Leighton's defence all just standing in a line, Ben Sawyer took a shot at goal, Dan Green got a hand to the ball but not enough to stop it from crossing the line, putting Barton into a 1-0 lead.

It looked like Leighton had equalised in the 30th minute with a good cross from Farmer to Watson and into the net but the referee blew his whistle as the lino flagged that the ball had gone out of play.

Leighton were forced to make another substitution in the 36th minute brining off Paul Lyon for Aaron Morgan.

Once again Leighton were asleep at the back and Sawyer made his way towards goal, the ball bobbled along the ground to find Hassan but he missed. Green made a brilliant save denying Barton of a second goal in the 40th minute, the ball ricocheted back out to Anderson but Chris Crook managed to put his body in the way of the shot.

With the second half underway Barton nearly found themselves scoring for Leighton, when a cross from Morgan found Michael Lyon in the box but was nearly headed in by the Barton defence.

Alex Condon was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute for Barton. A succession of saves were made by Kyle Forster to keep Leighton at bay with chances from Phil Draycott, Framer and Watson.

Draycott received a yellow card in the 66th minute for kicking the ball away. Only moments later Murphy headed the ball against the cross bar and then headed it straight into Forster hands.

A poor clearance by Murphy saw Sawyer come close to scoring again but his shot hit the side netting. Draycott hit a super strike in the 82nd minute but it fell wide.

With only 5 minutes remaining it all kicked off, Sawyer hit the post and then received a yellow card for a bad tackle on Murphy. A chance for Watson to even the score line took place but he skimmed the ball over the bar.

Then in the 90th minute Condon was shown a second yellow card and sent off the pitch for taking down Rajaram in the box. Leighton were awarded a penalty and Watson didn't disappoint, sending the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-1.

Farmer was shown a yellow card in injury time for a silly foul and Murphy hit a powerful shot along the ground for Forster to save before the final whistle was blown.

Leightons next game is at home to Biggleswade United in the Beds Senior Cup on Tuesday 11th November, kick off 7:45pm.

Barton Rovers

Team- Forster, Condon, Dhillon, Gatti, Andrews, Kilroy, Sawyer, Lee, Caglar, Anderson, Hassan

Subs- McDent, Vincent, Keating, Ottaway, Young

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Murphy, P. Lyon, M. Lyon, Senla, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Morgan, Farmer, Halia

Attendance-81

By Hannah Sellman

4 games undefeated for Leighton

Leighton Town FC 1-1 North Greenford United 

After winning against a top of the table side on Saturday, Leighton looked set to keep North Greenford at bay.

With only 30 seconds of the first half gone Chinua Cole failed to defend the ball and gave Danny Watson the chance to score, but unfortunately he hit it straight at the keeper.

Another shot came in for Leighton from Phil Draycott but was saved easily by Melvin Minter. Minter certainly had his work cut out as the first 10 minutes of the game saw Leighton firing the ball into the box but not getting that all important early goal.

Dan Green came into play 6 minutes in when a ricocheted ball off of Chris Crook saw him having to save the ball to stop what could have been an own goal.

Some great defending by Alvin Rajaram saw him dispossess Anthony O'Connor, but the ball fell to Michael Kinsella who's shot was hesitant and easily gathered by Green.

Once again Rajaram and also Robbie Goodman managed to stop North Greenford from making a break for goal in the 18th minute and saw O'Connor receive a yellow card.

In the 28th minute Watson was cornered by North Greenfords' defence but he worked hard and managed to get the ball across to Mark Bunker, who struck the ball on target but it was well blocked.

Claude Senla won Leighton a free kick with 5 minutes of the first half to go. Draycott pin pointed Goodman who'd made a good run into the box but he couldn't quite get his head to the ball, yet another missed opportunity for Leighton.

A silly foul given away by Crook right before half time saw Jack Hutchinson curve the ball in towards the net from the free kick. It looked like Green had it covered but he only pushed the ball further into the net, sending North Greenford into a 1-0 lead.

With the second half under way Christian Lester decided to have a pot shot at goal but his attempt was way too high to trouble Minter.

55 minutes in and a throw from Watson saw the ball played into the box and find the head of Michael Lyon who headed the ball home, putting Leighton back into the game, making it 1-1.

In the 66th minute Draycott managed to fire two shots at Minker, the first bouncing straight back to him before his second being converted out for a corner. Leightons first substitution saw Crook off and Dave Murphy on.

Leighton fought hard to try and get themselves a second goal after several missed chances. A cross from Draycott found Watson who slid into the box but he didn't get enough contact on the ball to threaten Minker.

Goal scorer Lyon came off for Leighton and was replaced by Ash Farmer in the 72nd minute. Farmers first touched managed to win Leighton a corner but was well cleared before Leighton could manage anything.

Leightons finally substitution saw Bunker come off and Tyrone Taylor on. A great long throw by Taylor in the 80th minute, saw Goodman flick the ball onto Senla but the ball was too far gone for him to reach.

With only 3 minutes remaining Watson found himself one on one with Minker, all he needed was to chip it over his head, but Minker managed to get a hand to the ball sending it out for a corner.

The corner was Leightons last chance at winning, Draycott hit the ball but it went straight to the keeper and saw Leighton finish with a 1-1 draw.

Leightons next game is away to Leiston FC in the FA Trophy on Saturday 1st November, kick off 3pm. The coach is leaving Bell Close at 10am, seats cost £12, so if anyone is wishing to travel on the coach they should email Iain McGregor on Iain.mcgregor1@btinternet.com to reserve themselves a seat.

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Bunker, Lester, Lyon, Senla, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Durcan, Murphy, Farmer, Morgan, Taylor

North Greenford United

Team- Minter, Delburello, Cole, Austin, Maintou, Brennan, Kinsella, Manu, Wallace, Hutchinson, O'Connor

Subs- Morris, Da Silva, Hopla, Read, O'Neil

Attendance- 60

By Hannah Sellman