Leighton Knocked Out Of Beds Senior Cup

By Andrew Parker

The Town welcomed Barton Rovers to Bell Close on Tuesday Evening, in the Beds Senior Cup, as they looked to continue an unbeaten start under the guidance, of Joe Sweeney and Paul Copson.

Rovers play their football in a league above Leighton, so it was always going to be a challenge for the Reds.
The Town lined up as follows:
Jones, Bryant, Brady, Davison-Gordon, Hall, McKee, Birch, Tamakloe, Faulkner, McBride, Marsala.
Substitutes:
Osei-Addo, Devine, Walton.
It was almost the dream start for the Town 4 minutes into the tie.
Dom Marsala whipped a free kick over the wall, and past the goalkeeper, but the post denied him his first goal of the season.
However, for the next 20 minutes, it was all Barton.
Andrew Phillips had a chance from 6 yards out with a header, but it was kept out fantastically by Charlie Jones.
Barton were looking very dangerous when they were running at Leighton, playing very direct football, as they looked to take the lead.
They then put together a really smart move, but it was smothered well by Jones, at Phillips’ feet.
Charlie Jones was then called into action again, when he tipped Jay Caines effort over the bar.
From the resulting corner, Aaron McKee then cleared a header off of the line, to keep the score line level, just.
Jones was called into action only a minute later, and made a great stop at his near post. A fantastic performance from him.
Despite the heavy Barton pressure, it was the Town who took lead!
On the break, Dom Marsala created room for himself out on the left hand side, before squaring to Kyle Faulkner. His shot took a slight deflection and evaded the arms of Goalkeeper Gary Malone and in! 1-0 to the Town, massively against the run of play.
After a very entertaining 25 minutes, the game hit a minor lull, with Barton a little disheartened after going behind and the Town looking more threatening, and starting to get the rub of the green in the centre of the park.
But, just before Half Time, Barton pulled themselves level.
Captain Andrew Phillips nodded home from a corner to get Rovers back on level terms.
The second half started just as quickly as the first and in similar fashion, another Dom Marsala chance, but this time...
Goal! Marsala disposed a Barton defender and found himself in on goal. He slotted past Malone with ease, putting the Town 2-1 up, much to the Shed End’s delight! His first goal of the season!
Leighton’s lead wouldn’t last for long however, as on the 55th minute, Barton were level once more.
A searching ball to the far post, fell to Jay Caines, and he prodded it home from all of 3 yards out. 2-2.
It was Barton who then dominated proceedings for the rest of the night, despite Leighton looking dangerous on the break, with Marsala having a superb game and Lewis McBride showing his energy and speed.
Rovers then hit the crossbar. Conner Vincent’s effort struck Kyle Davison-George and landed on the top of the Town’s crossbar and out for a corner.
Moments later, McBride cleared Jonny Butler’s header off of the line, to keep the score at 2-2.
But with around 10 minutes to go, Barton took the lead for the first time in the game.
Leighton switched off from a throw in as Barton took it quickly. Sam Gibson danced his way into the box and curled the ball past Jones and into the far right corner. Heartbreak for the Town, who had defended valiantly for most of the game.
Jimmy Hartley was then replaced by Wilson Ferreria for Barton.
Shortly after, the referee blew for full time and Barton will progress into the next round of the Beds Senior Cup.
A really entertaining game, both teams playing some great football on a new and improved surface at Bell Close.
It’s another tie at home for the Town on Saturday, as they welcome Stotfold to Bell Close.
Leighton have already beaten Stotfold 6-0 in the league this season away at The Green.
A repeat of that on Saturday?