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  

Leighton robbed of victory

Daventry Town FC 2-0 Leighton Town FC

The first day of winter had arrived; with a chill in the air Leighton faced Daventry away from home. With Daventry losing to bottom side AFC Hayes in their last game the odds were in Leightons favour.

Craig Bicknell had a decent squad to pick from, even with 2 players suspended (Jamie Nicholls and Michael Lyon). Alvin Rajaram and Gary Ridgeway both returned from injury and appeared in the starting line up.

Daventry won the toss but it was Leighton who found themselves with the ball 2 minutes in, when they had the first corner of the match. Phil Draycott curved the ball in from the corner to find the head of Chris Crook and it went out for a goal kick.

Ashley Deeney felt the pressure in the 11th minute, when he lost control of the ball to Draycott and with the help of Ridgeway and Danny Watson Leighton won themselves yet another corner. Rajaram was shown a yellow card moments later.

With Daventry being awarded a free kick Ross Outlon stepped up to the ball, he found the head of his own man and Dan Green had to jump to push it over the bar.

A pass back by Crook to Green saw him misjudge his kick and Daventry earn themselves an easy corner. Cries from Leighton for a penalty were heard when a ball played by Mark Bunker to Watson saw him going for goal before being taken down in the box, but the referee disregarded the idea.

Crook went down with a head injury 17 minutes in but the referee paid no attention and allowed play to continue, this resulted in Mitch Piggon facing Green one on one and the ball going straight through his legs and into the back of the net, putting Daventry 1-0 up.

Robbie Goodman came on in place of Crook in the 32nd minute when he went down holding his back. A real chance for Leighton to even the score came when Bunker booted the ball from the corner to find the head of Tyrone Taylor, he headed the ball down and it bounced high over the bar.

With only minutes before half time Leighton were determined to try and equalise, Ridgeway made a spectacular length of the pitch run and crossed the ball to Draycott but his first touch sent it flying over the bar.

With Leighton kicking off the second half and no changes made during the break, it was a long throw from Taylor which saw Leighton come close once again to equalising, the ball fell for Watson who only managed to hit post.

Leightons’ second substitution saw Rajaram come off to make way for Ash Farmer. Leighton continued to press for that all-important goal, having most of the play throughout the second half. It was Christian Lesters' turn to try and score but instead he launched the ball over the bar.

A final substitution for Leighton took place in the 76th minute with Aaron Morgan replaced Paul Lyon. Daventrys Dior Angus received a yellow card for getting stroppy and kicking the ball away after the referee had blown for offside.

With only 4 minute to go Lester stepped up again to try and score after Morgan played the ball through to him but he couldn't find the back of the net. Ridgeway received a misconstrued yellow card shortly before the final whistle was blown.

With play into injury time, what looked like an offside Josh O'Grady, for Daventry sprinted towards Green, who was scrambling for the ball in the air but couldn't keep hold of it and this saw O'Grady walk the ball straight into the back of the net. Making the final score 2-0.

Leighton Town FC-

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgeway, Crook, Murphy, Lyon, Taylor, Bunker, Lester, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Morgan, Goodman, Durcan, Farmer, Hart

Daventry Town FC-

Team- Heath, Deeney, Wilkinson, Hanes, Hutchcox, Deacon, Oulton, Howell, Piggon, Angus, Keen

Subs- O'Grady, Cartwright, Fitzgerald, Power, Morris

Attendance- 106

By Hannah Sellman