Leighton knock Bedford out of the park with first win of the season

With Bedford kicking off they dominated the first 15 minutes of the game with Dan Child making a save in the first minute with a shot from Robert Parker.

Only moments later Mark Bunker had to clear the ball off the line but ended up hitting Chris Crook in the face who then went down injured, but thankfully the ball hit the side netting.

A blatant offside run by Josh Winters didn't stop him and he continued to take his shot at goal but thankfully Child had it covered, as neither the referee nor the linesman saw the mistake.

With 3 chances for Bedford in the first 5 minutes of the game it was finally time for Leighton to take control. A cross by Tyrone Taylor saw Alvin Rajaram hit the ball wide of the post in the 17th minute.

23 minutes had past and with Leighton winning a corner it bounced off the chest of David Murphy off the line, finding Christian Lesters' feet who found the back of the net putting Leighton into the lead.

A crucial stop by Paul Lyon in the 35th minute saw Tom Liversedge denied a chance at goal for Bedford. With Bedfords' crosses coming in thick and fast it took the strength and skill of Leightons back 4 to keep them from drawing level.

A 40th minute corner saw Sam Macraes' kick cleared off the line by the confident head of Rajaram.

Crook was shown a yellow card in the 42nd minute and this gave Bedford a chance at goal from the awarded free kick. Neil King was the man kicking the ball, he sent it powerfully towards Child who mishandled the ball and it fell to Bedford once again for another shot but thankfully it flew over the bar.

With the second half underway Lyon glided past numerous players in the 53rd minute to find an unmarked Phil Draycott who only had the keeper to beat to get that all important second goal for Leighton. Draycott didn't crack under the pressure and walked past the keeper with ease, putting Leighton 2-0 up.

Rajaram was shown a yellow card in the 55th minute after the player he was hassling fell to the ground too easily.
Tommy Glasscoe found a way through Leightons' defence in the 57th minute, with Jamie Nicholls nipping at his heels to put him off, thankfully persistence paid off as the ball hit the side of the net.

Leightons’ first and second substitution came almost simultaneously and saw Lyon and Lester replaced with Gary Ridgeway and Aaron Morgan.

A stop in play saw an injured Glasscoe for Bedford go down so he could be treated, however he soon made a miraculous recovery and was back on his feet in no time taking a shot at goal.

Bedford made their 3rd and final substitution in the 71st hoping for a miracle, bringing on Russell Bull for Parker. A timely tackle by Rajaram in the 80th minute saw Tom Rawlings stopped in his tracks in the box on his way towards goal.

A last minute substitution for Leighton saw Nicholls replaced with Jerry Lyons. The last kick of the game saw Child force the ball down the pitch to Taylor who managed to squeeze himself between 2 of Bedfords' defenders and get a head to the ball towards the goal, but Lee Crockett plucked the ball from the air and held it securely.

Leightons next game is at home against Kettering Town on Tuesday 19th August, kick off 7:45pm

Bedford Town FC

Team- Crockett, Glasscoe, Hopewell, N. King, Woodward, Cooperr, Winters, Macrae, Liversedge, A. King, Parker

Subs- S. King, Bull, Cross, Grant, Rawlings

Leighton Town FC 

Team- Child, Bunker, Rajaram, Crook, Murphy, P.Lyon, Nicholls, Lester, Taylor, Watson, Draycott



Subs- Morgan, Prendergast, Lyons, Ridgeway, Kemonagna

Attendance- 232

By Hannah Sellman