Town bounce back in cup after major defeat

With Leighton losing their last 3 games and having met with Bedford in the league a few weeks ago, they went in looking for a win. Leighton were still without 6 of their players due to holidays and injuries, but 2 new signings, Sansom Alalade and Claude Seanla were there to fill in.

Leighton kicked off the first half and it wasn't long before Robbie Goodman had to clear the ball from a cross by Tom Rawlings stopping what could have been any early chance at goal.

8 minutes in saw Phil Draycott take Leightons' first corner of the game, Tyrone Taylors' head found the ball and headed just wide of the post.

Goodman went down with a twisted knee after a good tackle stopping Bedford from venturing further towards goal. 14 minutes in and Dan Burke won Bedford a free kick, Neil King stepped up to the ball and skied it high over the bar, a wasted chance.

Bedfords' first goal came in the 21st minute when Tom Rawlings, who was offside by about 5 yards, ran straight at Dan Green sped past him and found the back of the net.

Leighton had the chance to equalise only 3 minutes later when a free kick by Draycott found Dave Murphy but he headed the ball straight into the keepers hands.

Another free kick for Leighton and a scramble in the goal saw Draycotts' kick find Goodman who headed the ball straight at Shaun Markie, he pushed the ball against the post and Jamie Nicholls found the rebound, making it 1-1.

Leighton didn't give up and when the ball once again found Taylor, he headed the ball inches wide of the post. Bedford responded quickly to all of Leightons chances and had a low and powerful shot at goal, which was struck by Rob Parker, but Green had it covered.

Michael Lyon worked well to win the ball in the 39th minute, only for Murphy to accidentally miss head it moments later. Tom Rawlings snatched the ball away and made a run towards Green, where he faced him one on one yet again, but this time could only find the side netting.

Alalade played a lovely ball along the ground into the box in the 44th minute, but there was no one there to put it across the line.

Leighton made a change at half time bringing off Alalade for Seanla. Bedford kicked off the second half and straight away a shot by Tom Rawlings was well blocked by Chris Crook.

51 minutes in saw Aaron King break away from Leightons' back 4, Green came for the ball but Aaron King skirted round him and put Bedford into the lead.

Ash Farmer was taken down and a free kick was awarded to Leighton, Draycott once again fired the ball into the box but it fell straight into the hands of Shaun Markie.

With 63 minutes gone Leighton finally managed to make it 2-2 when a header from Taylor found Danny Watson and he booted the ball into the back of the net.

A good ball into Nicholls by Seanla saw him head the ball to Draycott, who in turn found Watson but he could only shoot the ball over the bar. Murphy went down injured in the 80th minute and received treatment before returning to the pitch.

With the score still 2-2 in the 88th minute Craig Bicknell made the decision to bring off Taylor and Nicholls for Kyle Durcan and Aaron Morgan in preparation for the penalty shoot out. Goodman went down in the 90th + 3 minute with a head injury and 3 minutes later the referee blew up for full-time.

The players took a short break before play resumed for the penalty shoot out.

Draycott took the first penalty for Leighton, his shot was low and powerful and found the right hand corner of the net.

Aaron King was first up for Bedford and although Green dived the right way, the ball went into the net, making it 1-1.

Next up was Morgan he kept his cool and found the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Neil Kings' penalty for Bedford didn't even reach Green as he hit the post putting Leighton 2-1 up.

Durcan didn't disappoint when he stepped up to the spot and hammered the ball home in the top left hand corner.

Bedfords' 3rd penalty was taken by Rob Parker and the pressure was on to score, luckily for him he put the ball away.

Watson was next for Leighton and he too didn't crack under the strain and hit the ball low and hard beating the keeper to make it 4-2.

Tom Liversedge was the 4th penalty taker for Bedford, he stuck the ball with force and Green dived to his left saving the ball making Leighton the winners of the shoot out.

Leightons' next game is away to Royston on Saturday 20th September, kick off 3pm.

Bedford Town FC

Team- Markie, Cooper, Hopewell, N.King, Woodward, McGoldrick, Macrae, Burke, Rawlings, A.King, Parker

Subs- Liversedge, Summerfield, Winters, Glasscoe

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Lyon, Murphy, Goodman, Crook, Taylor, Nicholls, Farmer, Alalade, Watson, Draycott

Subs- Morgan, Halai, Seanla, Durcan

Attendance- 135

By Hannah Sellman