30/08/08 15:00
FA
CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
Tilbury
0 - 2 Leighton Town
After their successful FA Cup run last season Leighton
travelled to Essex on Saturday hoping to make a winning
start to this years campaign but they knew it would not
be easy against a Tilbury side who have made a decent
start to their season in the Ryman League Division One
South.
Town made one change to the team that won at Marlow
with Wes Lewis replacing Craig Lanham in central
midfield.
In the 4th
minute
Tilbury had a chance when a through ball bounced high
over Lee Clark but Town defenders were able to divert
Stowe’s effort behind for a corner. After 10 minutes
Stowe showed some excellent skills to leave three Town
defenders trailing in his wake but Jack Copson covered
at the expense of a corner.
Town replied and Lon Gordon drove a cross towards the
edge of the 18yard box and Ben Gallant got up well but
his headed effort went well over the bar. Three minutes
after this Town won a free kick just outside the box
but James Lasbrey’s ree kick was diverted for a corner.
Tilbury were having more of the possession at this
stage but did not pose any threats to the Town goal.
Leighton had a good chance in the 27th
minute
when Peter Clifford could not get his quite direct his
header on target after a free kick from Jack Copson.
Three minutes after this Leon Gordon cut in from the
right at pace and unleashed a tremendous left footed
shot which looked bound for the top corner but Hall in
the Tilbury goal made a magnificent save to keep the
scores level.
In the next minute Leighton had another chance but
Peter Clifford at the far post headed a corner wide.
Hodge replied with a 20yarder for Tilbury but this
sailed well wide. Just before the break Town had
another wonderful chance to open the scoring when Leon
Cashman raced onto Enzo Silvestri’s through ball but
his lob over the keeper went inches the wrong side of
the post. In the last seconds of the half James Hatch
rose well to reach Jack Copson’s free kick but his
headed effort lacked power and was easily gathered by
the keeper.
Tilbury had te first attempt of the second half when
Lee Clark in the Town gal had to push a 25yard effort
to one side and ten minutes later Tilbury had a chance
from a free kick but Stowe glanced his header wide.
In the 5th
minute
Sean Downey brought on Denis Fenemore for James Hatch
and within seconds Town had taken the lead with a
wonderful goal by Ben Gallant.
The young striker controlled the ball with his back to
goal then spun to his right and fired a fierce left
footed shot high into the net from 23 yards with Hall
well beaten
In the 78th
minute
a good move involving Fenemore and Copson saw Gallant
outjump the home defence but his effort carried no real
threat to the home goal.
Town made a second substitution in the
80th
minute
when Scott Thomas replaced Leon Cashman and within 5
minutes Leighton had doubled their lead and effectively
killed off the tie. Town won a corner on the left and
Thomas’ kick went past every Leighton player but Cohen
trying to avoid the ball could only head the ball into
his own net to the disgust of his team mates.
A minute later Dennis Fenemore ran through on goal and
his left footed shot curled just wide of the far post.
Town Manager Sean Downey was not happy with his teas
first half display but they looked far more cohesive in
the second half and Tilbury only troubled Lee Clark
once during the whole match. Town as usual looked solid
at the back and this gave them the platform to go on
and win the game. Once Gallant had given Town the lead
Tilbury never looked capable of winning the tie and
town comfortably saw time out.
Referee Mr Harris of Maidstone deserves a mention or
his excellent display
Town will now play Stotfold in the next round a t
Stotfold on 13th September.
TEAM:
Clark, Lasbrey, Copson, Lewis, Clifford, Howley,
Gordon, Silvestri, Gallant, Hatch, Cashman.
Subs: McNulty(Silvestri89),Thomas(Cashman80), OGrady,
Fenemore(Hatch65), Lanham
Att.57
Town face a very difficult match next Saturday at Bell
Close when they entertain FA Cup giant killers,
Chasetown, who must be regarded as one of the
favourites for promotion from the BGB Midland Division.
Town Reserves lost 0-4 at home Bracknell Town in the
Suburban League.
FIXTURES
Tuesday 2nd
September
ko 7:45 SUBURBAN LEAGUE
NORTHWOOD v LEIGHTON RESERVES.
SAT 6th
September
ko 3pm
Leighton Town v Chasetown BGB Midland
23/08/08 15:00
LEIGHTON
TOWN 1 - 1 BROMSGROVE ROVERS
Leighton had to share the points on Saturday at Bell
Close in a match they perfectly foitted the description
of a’Game of Two Halves’. Leighton were the better side
in the first half but Bromsgrove seemed to find new
energy after the interval and it was the visitors who
dominated the second half although Lee Clark in the
Town goal was only really forced to make one save.
Manger Sean Downey made three changes to the side that
beat Woodford on Tuesday night, Skipper Peter Clifford
was restored to central defence in place of Sam
Chapman, Lee Clark who has returned to the Club
replaced SteveRoot in goal and new signing Craig Lanham
was chosen in preference to Scott Thomas in midfield.
After a tentative first ten minutes from both sides
Town started to get their game together and in the
18th
minute
after Enzo Silvestri was fouled just outside the
penalty area, James Lasbrey curled his free kick past
the wall but also just past the near post. A couple of
minutes later Ben Gallant was pulled down about 8yards
outside the area and Lasbrey once more tried his luck
with a curling effort but his well struck free kick
again went wide of the post.
In the 23rd minute following a throw in Ben Gallant
jumped well to win the ball but unfortunately for Town
his looping header was off target.
Town were looking far better than the visitors at this
stage and following a good four man passing sequence
Craig Lanham tried his luck from just outside the box
but his effort was blocked by the visitors defence. In
the 30th
minute
Town missed a golden opportunity to take the lead, Enzo
Silvestri started the move when he won the ball with an
excellent tackle in midfield and fed the ball to Leon
Gordon who laid it off to Ben Gallant, unfortunately
for Leighton, Gallant’s low ball across the face of the
goal went straight past three defenders but also past
the incoming Silvestri who was unmarked but probably
unsighted only 4 yards from the visitors goal.
Town remained on the offensive and a few minutes later
the industrious Silvestri won the ball in the air but
there was insufficient power in his effort and the ball
was easily collected by Dormand.
Town very nearly went in front in the
40th
minute
when a fiercely struck shot from the corner of the
penalty area by James Hatch flew a couple of inches off
target with the keeper well beaten.
In the last minute of the half just as it looked like
ending scoreless Leon Gordon and James Hatch combined
down the Town left and Hatch’s ball across was neatly
tucked away by the alert Gallant.
HT 1-0
Bromsgrove must have received a rocket from their
manager during the interval because they certainly
looked a different side in the second half without
giving the Town defence too many problems.
Town
were unable to keep possession and the visitors stepped
up the pressure and with 18 minutes remaining they
scored an equaliser when Town failed to clear their
lines and the ball fell to Birley who drove it straight
into the net. Two minutes later an effort from Jermaine
Clarke flew just over as the visitors looked for a
winner. Lee Clark was also forced to make a save with
his leg from the same player.
Most of the spectators in the ground agreed that a draw
was the fairest result but Town will be disappointed
that they could not duplicate their superiority after
the interval.
Leighton
have now played two of the League’s bigger clubs in
Nuneaten and Bromsgrove and have done well in both
games however defensive errors have cost them points in
both games and they will be hoping for better at Marlow
on Monday.
TEAM. Clark, Lasbrey, Cashman, Lewis(McNulty89),
Clifford, Howley, Lanham(Thomas 80), Silvestri,
Gallant, Hatch(O’Grady80), Gordon.
Subs: Thomas, Chapman, Copson, McNulty, O’Grady
Attendance: 114
Town’s reserve side travelled to Camberley with a
depleted side and paid a high p[rice when they were
beaten 5-1. Dennis Fenemore scored a superb 25 yarder
for Town’s consolation goal.
FIXTURES.
Monday 25th
August
ko 3pm Marlow v Leighton BGB LEAGUE
Tuesday 26th
August
ko 7:45 Leighton Reserves v Newport Pagnell SUBURBAN
LEAGUE
Saturday 30th
August
ko 3pm Tilbury v Leighton FA CUP
Saturday 30th
August
ko3pm Leighton Reserves v Bracknell SUBURBAN LEAGUE
Saturday 6th
Sept
ko 3pm Leighton Town v Chasetown BGB LEAGUE
There are still a few seats left on the coach for the
trip to Tilbury. Anyone wanting to travel should add
their name to the list in the Club Bar.
16/08/08 15:00
NUNEATON
TOWN 2 - 1 LEIGHTON TOWN
Town started their League Season with a trip to
Nuneaton on Saturday and if it had not been for two
defensive mistakes they would have returned with a well
deserved point for their efforts.
Nuneaton who were in the Conference North last season
were relegated 2 divisions after going into
Administration but are one of the strongly fancied
sides to gain promotion as they seek to regain their
former status at the higher levels.
Leighton had to make a defensive change when Peter
Clifford failed to recover from a knee injury sustained
in the midweek win over Stevenage and Sam Chapman and
Liam Howley were paired together in central defence.
Wes Lewis was included in midfield as partner to Enzo
Silvestri.
Town started with the wind slightly in their favour and
James Hatch had the first shot of the game but his
effort flew wide of the post. A minute later the hosts
were awarded a free kick just outside the box but Sam
Chapman headed the ball away to clear the danger.
In the early stages both sides were struggling to find
any tempo and the ball was being given away far too
easily and the game had no real pattern.
In the 8th
minute
the hosts were awarded a corner which was delivered to
the far post but fortunately for Town the ball was
headed into the side netting. A few minutes later Steve
Root in the Leighton goal had to be alert to punch the
ball off the head of an attacker, as the hosts stepped
up the pace.
Town countered and were awarded a free kick just
outside the box but Scott Thomas drove his low kick
straight into the defensive wall and the chance was
lost. A few minutes later Silvestri ran through from
midfield but was denied at the expense of a corner.
Although Sam Chapman won the ball his header was easily
caught by Acton in the home goal.
In the 22nd
minute
the Nuneaton left back made a good break down the flank
but from a good position put his cross behind for a
goal kick. Town had the next chance but Ben Gallant’s
header was easy pickings for Acton.
Nuneaton took the lead in the 35th
minute
when Ramsay ran onto a hopeful forward ball and held
off challenges from Chapman and Lasbrey to slot the
ball past Root.
HT 1-0
Nuneaton created the first chance of the second half
after winning two corners. Browns header from the
second looked like finding the net but Town were able
to kick the ball off the line to keep lead down to one
goal.
In the 65th
minute
after foiling a Town attack Nuneaton broke quickly down
their right and Ramsay shot just wide of the far post
under pressure.
Town replaced Scott Thomas with Jamie O’Grady and
within two minutes were level . James Hatch showed some
neat footwork and fed a clever pass to O’Grady and his
wonderful curling cross was met at the far post by Enzo
Silvestri with a fabulous header which flew into the
back of the net.
Town looked more confident after the equaliser but
Nuneaton had a chance from a free kick just outside the
area but their fierce effort flew just over the bar.
With just five minutes remaining and Town looking good
for a point the referees assistant flagged for a highly
debatable free kick as three Town players went to win
the near the corner. After Town protests about the
decision the free kick was swung in to the box and the
unmarked Ramsay was left free to head his second and
the winning goal.
Despite their best efforts Town never looked like
scoring an equaliser and the hosts finished with all
the points.
Town were disappointed not to have earned a least a
point but Nuneaton had more possession and more
territorial superiority although Steve Root had very
little work to do apart from collecting a few crosses
and through balls. Two defensive lapses cost Town
dearly but they displayed their usual collective
resilience and spirit to make it hard work for the
hosts.
ATTENDANCE: 748
TEAM: Root, Lasbrey, Cashman, Chapman(Kench 88), Lewis,
Howley, Thomas(O’Grady 65) Silvestri, Gallant, Hatch,
Gordon.
Subs(Not used) McNulty, Bell, Copson.
Leighton Reserves drew 1-1 with Bedfont Green Reserves
at Bell Close.
FIXTURES
BGB LEAGUE TUESDAY 19th
AUGUST
ko7:45 Leighton Town v Woodford United
BGB LEAGUE SATURDAY 23rd
August
3pm LEIGHTON TOWN V BROMSGROVE ROVERS
BGB LEAGUE MONDAY 25th
August
3pm MARLOW v LEIGHTON TOWN