Leighton lose at home to Uxbridge second half double

Leighton Town FC 0-2 Uxbridge FC

With 3 first teamers unavailable due to suspension and injury, Craig Bicknell still managed to field a strong squad going into the game against Uxbridge. 

Uxbridge had their first corner of the game 5 minutes in, but Dave Murphy cleared the ball away with his head stopping what could have been a potential shot.

Moments later Leighton's first on target shot of the game by Claude Senla was flagged offside by the lino. 

Appeals were heard for hand ball by Uxbridge in the 15th minute when Robbie Goodman was taken down by Kevin Warner, but the referee dismissed the idea and showed Warner a yellow card for the tackle. 

A chance for Leighton to take the lead came when Paul McCarthy dropped a ball from Gary Ridgway. Billy Lobjoit powered towards McCarthy but he got the ball under control before he reached him.

Halfway through the first half and a great block by Chris Crook denied Lewis Cole from scoring. Leon Lobjoit was shown a yellow card in the 28th minute after a coming together with earlier booked Warner.

Uxbridge made the decision to substitute in the 31st minute bringing off Warner for Danny Julienne, encase of another yellow card. However only 9 minutes later Julienne was booked. 

A throw from Ridgway unleashed the skill of Senla just before half time, beating two players and playing a low ball in, the ball bobbled across the goal with nobody to tap it across the line.

Goodman managed to chase down Matt Woods causing him to panic before shooting and stopped what could have been a goal just before half time.  

Going into the second half Ridgway had a shot for Leighton but McCarthy had it covered, diving to his left to stop the ball.

A miss-kicked pass by Billy Lobjoit luckily bounced to the feet of Christian Lester in the 55th minute, he hesitated before shooting but managed to win Leighton a corner. 

Cole was shown a yellow card for taking down Crook and only seconds later, Crook was shown a yellow for a supposed bad tackle on Cole, who walked away from the incident uninjured. 

Leighton made their first substitution in the 59th minute brining off Leon Lobjoit for Phil Draycott. 

A corner by Draycott saw McCarthy palm the ball away from Lester's header in the 64th minute and it wasn't long before Leighton's untaken chances cost them the game.

Woods charged towards Dan Green after Leighton's corner, sent him off balance and slotted the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-0 to Uxbridge. 

Leighton made their second substitution with 20 minutes to go bringing off Paul Lyon for Michael Lyon. 

Uxbridge's second goal came in the 77th minute. Once again Green was out of goal, Murphy covered his position but could only play the ball straight back to the feet of Chris Moore, who put Uxbridge 2-0 up. 

Crook was brought off for Aaron Morgan shortly after the goal. Lester was shown a silly yellow card 3 minutes from the end for kicking the ball away and Michael Lyon was also shown a yellow in stoppage time for foul play. 

Leighton's next game is away to North Greenford United on Saturday 10th January, kick off 3pm. 

Uxbridge FC

Team- McCarthy, Christopher, Wambeek, Thomas, Dennison, Carter, Warner, Cole, Woods, Moore, Groves

Subs- Bates, Pickford, Julienne, Tomkins, Wiseman

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Murphy, P. Lyon, Crook, B. Lobjoit, L. Lobjoit, Senla, Lester

Subs- Draycott, Morgan, M. Lyon, Flux, Farmer 

Attendance- 75

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