Leighton finish season on a high

AFC Hayes 1-3 Leighton Town FC

Leighton faced bottom of the league AFC Hayes in their last game of the season. It was also a sad farewell to Tyrone Taylor who has decided to hang up his boots.

AFC Hayes kicked off and had the first corner of the game 4 minutes in but they could only find the side netting, however they opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Ryan Debattista strolled past Dave Murphy, went one on one with Zaki Oualah before finally putting the ball in the net. 

Billy Lobjoit went down injured early in the first half and was replaced with Christian Lester. Leighton's first real chance of the game came in the 23rd minute, when Robbie Goodman headed the ball just wide of the post.

AFC Hayes also had to make an early substitution bringing off Cristian Barrett for Carlton Stewart in the 36th minute. 

Phil Draycott tested Sam Mazurek 39 minutes in, he had to make a diving save and push the ball away with his fingertips to deny Leighton of an equaliser. Leighton managed to draw level in the 43rd minute, the ball fell for Gary Ridgway and he managed to find the back of the net. 

Mark Bunker took down David Manu just outside box moments before the half time whistle. Tom Dawson stepped up to take the free kick and Goodman was on hand to clear the ball away with his foot. 

A great ball by Taylor found Bunker, he calmly transferred the ball over to Draycott, who played it straight through Mazureks' legs, to put Leighton into the lead at half time. 

With the second half underway it was only a matter of time before things started to get heated between the two teams. In the 49th minute Manu squared up to Murphy, but thankfully the referee stepped in before it became out of hand.

Mike Kinsella clattered into Lester in the 53rd minute and subsequently caused himself more damaged than his target and was substituted off to make way for Dujon Desagurante. Leighton also made their second substitution of the game bringing off Michael Lyon for Ash Farmer. 

Shouts were heard in the 60th minute when Desagurante passed the ball back to Mazurek, but the referee seemed oblivious to the pass back and play continued. 

Danny Watson was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute for pulling Jerome Eccleston's shirt. Only minutes later Bunker also received a yellow card for taking down Manu. 

Draycott had a pot shot at goal in the 66th minute and even though it had some power behind it, it curled just wide of the post. Taylor had a chance at goal in the 74th minute but he headed the ball over the bar.

Leighton made their final substitution brining off Draycott for Alvin Rajaram in the 78th minute. In the 83rd minute Leighton seal the deal with a third and final goal. AFC Hayes's defence were slacking and Farmer took the opportunity to score, making it 3-1. 

AFC Hayes were awarded a free kick just outside the box with 5 minutes remaining and Rajaram was on hand to ensure that the ball didn't reach the goal, clearing it well down the pitch. 

Taking into today's results Leighton Town have finished in 18th position with 43 points. A great achievement for Craig Bicknell and his team, especially with it being their first experience at this level. 

We'd like to congratulate Kettering Town on their automatic promotion and commiserations to both AFC Hayes and North Greenford United on their relegation.

Leighton Town will be having a presentation night on Saturday 9th May at 7pm at the club, to celebrate the end of the season.

AFC Hayes

Team- Mazurek, Expiteta, Barrett, Kinsella, Eccleston, Azamoah, Cass, Berry, Debattista, Dawson, Manu

Subs- Olajuby, Minter, Desagurante, Stewart, Baldwin

Leighton Town FC

Team- Oualah, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, Taylor, Morgan, Lyon, Lobjoit, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Crook, Farmer, Rajaram, Senla, Lester 

Attendance- 76

By Hannah Sellman 

Watson hat-trick seals the deal

Leighton Town FC 4-1 AFC Hayes

With AFC Hayes winning their last 4 games, it was going to be a tough game for Leighton but they were ready to take on the challenge. A few changes had been made from Saturdays line up, Chris Crook was dropped due to injury, Michael Lyon was back from suspension and Claude Seanla started up front.

With AFC Hayes kicking off they managed to earn themselves a corner in the first 2 minutes, thankfully Tyrone Taylor cleared the ball with ease.

Tables turned quickly and the ball fell to Seanla who struck the ball hard but it curled right, just past the post. An early yellow card was shown to Lee McManus who took down Michael Lyon in his own half.

Phil Draycott stepped up to take the awarded free kick, the ball found Danny Watson and he launched the ball right into the middle of the net, putting Leighton into an early lead.

Dave Murphy was shown a yellow card for pulling back one of the opposition.

It wasn't long before AFC Hayes had some luck and equalised in the 18th minute. A free kick was cleared well by Leightons' defence but rebounded straight back to Richard Faux-James who made it all square.

Tobi Akinjirin couldn't control his temper and punched Alvin Rajaram in the ribs soon after the goal, but the referee was oblivious and gave nothing.

Seanla found himself in a tricky situation in the 28th minute, on his own in the corner with 3 AFC Hayes defenders, but he managed to find Draycott who put a brilliant cross in, finding the head of Watson and the back of the net, making it 2-1 to Leighton.

Sam Mazurek (ex-Leighton player) was caught unawares when a shot from Taylor hit the post but ricocheted straight back to AFC Hayes. An early substitution saw an injured Jake Cass replaced by Dan Bourne.

Some great defending by Gary Ridgeway prevented AFC Hayes from drawing level just before the half time whistle. A half time substitution saw Ridgeway make way for Dan Hart.

Eager for another goal Leighton kicked off the second half looking strong and it wasn't long before Seanla took control of the ball and hit it just wide of the post.

Leighton were in luck with only 2 minutes of the second half played, Lyon flicked the ball into the back of the net from a Draycott corner, putting them 3-1 up.

A good goal kick by Dan Green saw the ball fly through the air and land at Watsons' feet, with Mazurek out of his goal Watson took a chance and lobbed the ball over his head, the ball flew straight into the goal, sending Leighton into a storming lead.

It could have been 5-1 for Leighton but a goal by Robbie Goodman was disallowed after the referee witnessed pushing in the box. A second substitution for Leighton saw Lyon make way for Ash Farmer in the 64th minute.

Play was stopped when Dave Murphy went down with an injury to his groin and was brought straight off, leaving Mark Bunker to take his place.

A series of throw ins for AFC Hayes took place 10 minutes before the final whistle, playing the line managing to find Akinjirin who took at shot at goal but the ball just scrapped over the bar.

Christian Lester received a yellow card in the 85th minute for constantly niggling away at the opposition. A crucial save by Green in the 89th minute denied Faux-James of a goal, as the ball was pushed against the post and bounced straight back out to Leighton.

Leightons' next game is at home to Godalming Town on Saturday 11th October, kick off 3pm.

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgeway, Goodman, Murphy, Taylor, Lester, Lyon, Seanla, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Farmer, Durcan, Hart, Bunker, Morgan

AFC Hayes

Team- Mazurek, Walters, Vincent, Underwood, Goode, Ecclestone, Elivi, McManus, Akinjirin, Faux-James, Cass

Subs- Bourne, King, Grant, Wallcott

Attendance- 70

By Hannah Sellman