Lucky Leighton leave game with a point

With a heavy downpour before the game and a rainbow forming above the players heads, it looked like it could be a lucky charm for one team.

The first minute saw Marlows' Devontae Romeo hit just wide of the post after successfully beating Mark Bunker. Nathan Ashton gave Marlow another chance at goal when he passed the ball to Corey King but Dan Child had it covered.

With Leighton being awarded a corner 5 minutes in it was their turn to try and take the lead but Simon Grant easily caught the ball from Tyrone Taylors’ head.

Another shot from Romeo was safely stopped by Child, but he wouldn’t give in and continued to fire the ball at Child at every opportunity.

With Grant out of his goal in the 7th minute Alvin Rajaram took his chances and found front man Danny Watson but Grant somehow managed to stop the ball from entering the net.

It was Leightons’ time for numerous chances to go a miss with Bunker playing a good ball to Watson but once again Grant was there to meet the ball.

With the referee seemingly siding with the home team it was a shock when Leighton were awarded a free kick for a foul on Aaron Morgan. The free kick saw Watson hit the ball low and hard but wide of the post.

An early injury for Marlow saw Ashton replaced with Tom Baddeley. A free kick for Marlow on the edge of the box was well cleared by Christian Lester before it came to any danger.

Some good play by Taylor and Watson saw them sneak the ball to Phil Draycott who’s shot at goal was powerful but didn’t trouble Grant.

In the 33rd minute King seemed to be on a mission on his own towards the goal managing to pass Jamie Nicholls and take a shot but Child wasn’t flustered.

Watson earned himself a free kick in the 35th minute, Bunker stepped up to the plate and Lester made a great challenge on the keeper but the referee blew up for a foul.

Some excellent defending by Chris Crook in the 38th minute saw Leighton saved when Child was nowhere to be seen, as Lee Barney struck the ball hard.

Shouts for a penalty were heard from Leighton in the 40th minute when Nicholls was taken down in the box but the referee dismissed the idea.

With 1 minute to go before half time there was a goal mouth scramble, when Marlow hit the underside of the bar and it bounced out for Crook to clear off the line. This left the score at 0-0 going into half time.

Leighton kicked off the second half biting back after Marlows near miss, Draycott and Watson worked together to build up a shot, but once again Grant couldn’t be faulted.

It seemed that Leighton were starting to lose possession of the ball more easily as the game went on and no matter how hard they worked the referee seemed to be constantly blowing up for fouls against them.
Bunker received a yellow in the 55th minute for a harmless tackle. Leightons first substitution saw Nicholls replaced with Warren Garcia in the 59th minute.

Marlow answered Leightons substitution a few minutes later bringing on Jon Bennett in place of Barney.
Another chance for Leighton came when Morgan had a shot at goal after some superb play by Taylor and Garcia. A 65th minute substitution for Marlow saw Richie Whittingham make way for Phil Cousins.

From the 68th minute the game was packed with action. A good cross from Bunker saw Watson jump for the ball allowing it to hit his head, but once again it went wide of the post.

A very angry Kurtney Brooks was shown a yellow card after mouthing off at the referee for disagreeing with his decision. Leightons second substitution saw Taylor replaced with Paul Lyon in the 70th minute.

2 minutes later a horrendous tackle on Morgan saw him receive treatment and a yellow cars was shown to Chris Ovenden.
With 10 minutes to go Leighton picked up the pace. With the fresh legs of Garcia on the pitch he made a brilliant tackle and passed the ball to Watson, who made his way past two defenders and hit the ball along the ground, hoping to find the net but only managing to find the fence behind the goal.

A still injured Lester came off with a few minutes to go making way for Rory Prendergast. A hand to the ball by Child in the 84th minute stopped Bennetts shot for Marlow clearing it for a corner.

A last attempt at goal for Leighton was taken by Garcia but it was a pot shot well wide from long range.

A 90+1 minute free kick just outside the box for Marlow saw the ball fly high into the air missing everyone’s head and the game ending 0-0.

Leightons’ next game is on Saturday 16th August away to Bedford Town FC, kick off 3pm.

Marlow FC

Team- Grant, Bailey, Ashton, Brooks, Hicks, Ovenden, Whittingham, Romeo, Barney, King, Parrott

Subs- Richards, Ferdinand, Baddeley, Cousins, Bennett

Leighton Town FC

Team- Child, Bunker, Rajaram, Crook, Murphy, Taylor, Nicholls, Morgan, Lester, Watson, Draycott

Subs- P.Lyon, Prendergast, Garcia, Lyons, Ridgway

Attendance- 79

By Hannah Sellman