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 

Rams and Leighton both score late to share the points

Beaconsfield SYCOB 2-2 Leighton Town FC

Going into the game it was clear that Leighton could win all 3 points. They certainly needed them to get a good run for the start of the new year. 

Team morale was high when the referee blew his whistle to get the game underway and Leighton started the game brightly. By putting pressure on Beaconsfield defence Leighton were starting to take the upper hand. 

6 minutes in Mark Bunker did well to get past his opponent and get a good cross in, only for the keeper to attempt to claim it,  however he dropped the ball and with no one to follow it up it was a wasted chance for Leighton. 

Beaconsfield came close to scoring against the run of play in the 10th minute when Aaron Berry curled the ball just past the post. 

Leighton's Billy Lobjoit felt he deserved a penalty in the 22nd minute when he was taken down harshly in the box, but the referee didn't bat an eyelid and play continued. 

The first corner of the game was awarded to Leighton more than half way through the second half but Phil Draycott's kick was easily punched away by Sam Bunting.

Romaine Walker played a good play through to Kofi Lockhart-Adams in the 34th minute, with only Bunker chasing him he managed to keep his cool and slot the ball calmly past Dan Green, putting Beaconsfield 1-0 up.

Leighton made two substitutions at half time brining off Paul and Michael Lyon for Tyrone Taylor and Ash Farmer. 

A goal from the whistle saw Leighton draw level with Beaconsfield. Draycott crossed the ball to find the head of Billy Lobjoit who headed it home.

The 54th minute saw a goal mouth scramble for Leighton with Taylor's shot blocked by the legs of Beaconsfield's defence and the ball bounces off the post to deny Leighton the lead. 

A great push over the bar by Green in the 69th minute stopped Lockhart-Adams from earning his brace of the game and only moments later Green denied Jordan Ajanlekoko of a goal, pushing the ball away for a corner. 

Gary Ridgway was shown a yellow card in the 76th minute. Leighton's final substitution saw an injured Robbie Goodman replaced with Chris Crook. 

Leighton managed to take the lead in the 85th minute when a pinpoint cross from Taylor found Danny Watson and he lobed the ball over the keeper into the net. 

The joy of the goal was short lived however when minutes later Green took down Elliot Carey in the box. Lockhart-Adams stepped up to the penalty spot and played the ball past the fingertips of Green into the net. 

A last ditch attempt to score by Draycott in injury time was stopped by Tom Gant, making it 2-2 at the end of the game.

Leighton's next game is away to Hanwell Town on Saturday 17th January, kick off 3pm.

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Bunker, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, P. Lyon, Lester, M. Lyon, B. Lobjoit, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Garcia, Crook, Taylor, Farmer, Morgan

Beaconsfield SYCOB

Team- Bunting, Gant, Carby, Ajanlekoko, Murray, Brooks, Walker, Togwell, Berry, Jones, Lockhart-Adams

Subs- Martin, Carey, Patrick, Kelynack, Vincente 

Attendance- 72 

By Hannah Sellman & Hugh Sullivan