Two first half goals seal the deal for Leighton

Leighton Town FC 2-1 Daventry Town FC

It was another busy week for Craig Bicknell as he signed four new players to boast Leighton's numbers and with two new faces starting it wasn't long before the ball found the back of the net.

Daventry kicked off exactly on the hour and 11 minutes into the first half Leighton were awarded the first corner of the game. 

With the ball landing in the box it was a scrap between the two teams to get it under control but Michael Mundy managed to tap it across the line and put Leighton into the lead. 

Only a minute later Billy Lobjoit had a clear run at goal. His shot was pushed aside by Ronnie Carroll but fell to the feet of Mundy, who got his second of the game.  

Leighton had another couple of chances at goal, with Odunayo Oke's strike going just wide of the post and Ash Farmer's cross just needing an extra touch to cross the line. 

In the 26th minute Daventry managed to pull a goal back. Ricky Hill produced a long throw and as Zaki Oualah tried to punch the ball away Aaron King managed to get in the way and find the back of the net, making it 2-1.

Play was stopped in the 30th minute when Gary Ridgway sustained a knock to the nose and needed treatment. Penalty appeals were heard in the 38th minute when Ridgway was taken down badly in the box and needed treatment again this time for his shoulder. 

Leighton had a chance just before the half time whistle to get a third goal when Mark Bunker curved the ball in from a corner to find the head of Tyrone Taylor but he headed the ball over the bar. 

Mundy tried to get his hat-trick of the game when Farmer played him through but although his shot was powerful it was caught well by Carroll. 

Leighton made their first substitution during half time bringing off an injured Ridgway for Dave Murphy. With the second half underway Leighton came out fighting for another goal to inch even further ahead of Daventry and Lobjoit came close but went wide in the 46th minute. 

A silly handball by Robbie Goodman in the 55th minute saw Daventry awarded a free kick just outside the box but luckily it hit the wall. 

The 59th minute saw the game once again stopped for a head injury this time Alvin Rajaram and Daventry's James Weale who had sliced his eyebrow open and was replaced quickly with Harry Southern. 

Leighton made their second substitution bringing off Oke for Dale Turney. A great one handed save by Oualah in the 65th minute denied Daventry of an equaliser. Taylor's powerful shot in the 70th minute tested Carroll's quick reactions and he held the ball firmly. 

A final substitution was made for Leighton in the 76th minute brining of goal scorer Mundy for Anthony Ottaway. 

Ottaway played a lovely ball through to Bunker in the 81st minute, he hit the ball with power and Carroll only just managed to push it over the bar for a corner. 

Turney received a yellow card in the 88th minute for kicking the ball away after the referee had blown up for a Daventry free kick. Leighton had a last minute corner to try and make it 3-1 but it wasn't to be and it finished 2-1.

Leighton's next game is on Saturday 4th April away to Godalming, kick off 3pm. 

Daventry Town FC

Team- Carroll, Deeney, Hancocks, S.King, Hill, Henderson, Weale, Howell, Tricks, A.King, O'Connor

Subs- Kiembi, Musvnga, Zidyana, Southern, Fuller

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Rajaram, Taylor, Morgan, Oke, Mundy, Lobjoit, Farmer

Subs- Murphy, Ottaway, Irving, Turney, Sopa 

Attendance- 100

By Hannah Sellman  

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 

Leighton leave it too late to catch Rugby

Rugby Town FC 2-1 Leighton Town FC

It's been 10 days since we last saw a game of football and it was time for Leighton to take on Rugby, who during the week lost their top goal scorer to Kettering.  

2 players were unavailable and with Craig Bicknell off enjoying a holiday, it was down to Jon Reed to lead the team to victory. 

With dark clouds looming overhead Leighton kicked off the first half looking strong. Danny Watson gave away a silly free kick pushing Mason Rowley off the ball to try and win an early corner. 

A great header by Robbie Goodman in the 8th minute saw a missed chance for Aaron Morgan as the ball didn't fall for him in time. 

Justin Marsden found himself with the ball and completely unmarked in the 10th minute but he miss hit the ball and ended up going down injured.

In the 22nd minute Michael Lyon took a shot at goal after he received the ball from Watson, the ball ricocheted off the Rugby defence and landed at Christian Lester's feet, he struck the ball from 20 yards out and scored a cracking goal, putting Leighton 1-0 up.

31 minutes gone and Mark Bunker nearly scored an own goal for Rugby after Marsden played the ball into the box. The looming clouds finally burst and Butlin Road was the feature of a heavy down pour, which made the conditions on the pitch change and the game more interesting. 

With only 5 minutes of the first half remaining Lewis Rankin and Craig Kelly worked together well to win a corner. The ball landed at Richard Blythe feet, he struck the ball powerfully, hit the inside of the far post and the ball landed in the back of the net, making it 1-1.

Phil Draycott tried to put Leighton back into the lead before half time, but his shot scrapped just over the bar. 

Rugby kicked off the second half with a bang, from the word go Sam Youngs hit the post, Marsden controlled the ricocheted and took a shot at goal but Dan Green spread his body to stop it from crossing the line. 

End to end action then saw Watson have a chance of scoring but Richard Morris dived to block the shot. 

Things got heated in the 52nd minute when Bunker slid in to get the ball from Youngs, both were shown a yellow card as was Will Grocott who got caught up in the moment. 

Watson found himself with the ball in the 56th minute with no one but Morris in front of him. He made his way towards him but failed to score. Morgan, who had made the run into the box to support Watson, obtained the ball but his shot was then cleared off the line.

The 65th minute saw Lester leave his foot in on a tackle in the box and although Rugby did not react, the referee awarded them a penalty. Youngs stepped up to the spot and launched the ball into the top left hand corner, out of Greens reach, sending Rugby 2-1 up. 

Leighton made their first substitution bringing off Lyon for Ash Farmer. Shouts for a penalty were heard from Leighton in the 70th minute when Draycott was pushed over in the box but the referee dismissed the idea. 

Another spectacular shot by Lester in the 73rd minute saw Morris get a hand to the ball to convert it out for a corner. 

Green stopped yet another shot by Youngs to deny Rugby from venturing further into the lead.  A wayward but powerful shot by Mitchell Piggon saw him knock down one of his own supporters in the stand in the 82nd minute. 

Tyrone Taylor found himself in a tricky situation, when he was surrounded by 3 Rugby men but he managed to take a low shot at goal, but it was easily gathered by Morris. 

With 89 minutes on the clock Piggon went down injured after making a great run towards goal but pulling up short holding his hamstring. Play was stopped while the stretcher was brought on, but he managed to hobble off before play resumed. 

Leighton made their second substitution bringing off Morgan for Irving, in injury time, when the whistle finally blew after 6 added minutes. 

Leightons next game is away to North Greenford in the second round of the Red Insure Cup on Tuesday 25th November, kick off 7:45pm. 

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Lester, Taylor, Lyon, Morgan, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Farmer, Tompkins, Irving, Halai

Rugby Town FC

Team- Morris, George, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger, Grocott, Banks, Blythe, Rankin, Marsen, Youngs

Subs- Piggon, Austin, Bishop

Attendance- 195

By Hannah Sellman