Marlow 0 - Leighton Town 1

Leighton returned from Marlow having recorded only their second League win of the season thanks to a goal midway through the first half from Lewis McBride. Town manager, Sean Downey was forced to make one change from the team that beat Abingdon in the FA Cup as central defender Sam Chapman had to miss the match through injury. Charlie Cunningham who had to miss last week’s game was chosen to partner Stuart Deaton at the heart of the Town defence.
Town started the match in confident fashion and created a chance after just 80 seconds in a decent move which involved James Hatch and Jake Bewley who fed the ball to Ben Gallant, he turned well to lose his marker before he shot across goal and wide of the far post. In the early minutes the home side had a real problem getting out of their own half and Town were on the offensive despite kicking up the slope and against the wind. In the 7th minute Leighton won a corner on their right flank and Jake Bewley‘s kick was missed by Deji Ojuroye at the far post who obviously lost the flight of the ball. In the 11th minute Town had another great chance but after Ben Gallant’s shot had been blocked by the keeper, Lewis McBride drove the loose ball over the bar from 8 yards out. Marlow then broke quickly and only some excellent defensive work by Charlie Cunningham prevented them from making the most of the situation. Town then returned to the attack and James Hatch’s shot had to be turned for a corner which the hosts cleared without difficulty. Town continued to look the better team and in the 27th minute they took the lead, Lewis McBride carried the ball forward from midfield and then to most people’s surprise tried a long range low shot which ended in the back of the net. The goal was no less than Town deserved for their efforts up to this time and the home attack was posing no real threat to the Town defence. For the rest of the half Town were well in control but could not add to their single goal.
In the 47th minute a good 3 man move saw Jake Bewley’s cross deflected in to the keeper’s hands as Town again started brightly. Shortly afterwards Andre Maltay‘s cross was just a fraction too high for Bilal Hassan who was unable to get the required direction with his headed effort. In the 54th minute Hatch blazed well over after a Leighton free kick and in Leighton’s next attack Ojuroye fired well wide. This was followed by a Town free kick which was headed wide by Stuart Deaton. In the 66th minute Ojuroye received the ball on the angle of the penalty area but his excellent curling shot went just wide of the far post. Marlow then attacked but a deep cross was headed away and the follow up shot was way off target. In the 72nd minute Town won a free kick but Lewis McBride’s kick was too deep and was headed wide by Ojuroye. The game was getting a little scrappy at this point but Town still looked comfortable enough and Lewis McBride shot wide off the far post before Deji Ojuroye headed a corner kick wide. In the 40th minute Lee Clark was unable to hold a low shot and as he scrambled to get the loose ball Marlow appealed for a penalty as one of the players went down, but the referee showed no inclination to give a spot kick and Town were awarded a goal kick. A minute later a fiercely struck shot from a Marlow player was deflected over the Town bar for a corner kick. Two minutes later Gallant shot way off target from distance as Town attacked. There were no chances in the dying minutes and Town were able to see the game out and they were worthy winners on the day particularly for their first half performance when they might have had a 3 goal lead.
TEAM: Clark, Maltay, Bewley, Cunningham, Deaton, Ojuroye, McBride, Hanley, Gallant(Bush), Hatch, Hassan.
Subs: 12:Bush, 14:Copson, 15:McNulty, 16:Lazarus, GK; Bell
ATT: 97