Northwood 2 - Leighton Town 1

NORTHWOOD 2 - 1 LEIGHTON TOWN
Town made the short trip to Northwood on Saturday and despite being the better team for at least an hour they will be left wondering why they had nothing to show for their efforts when two late goals ensured the hosts took all the points and dumped Town into the bottom two of the Southern League, Central Division.
Town Manager, Sean Downey was forced to make changes to the team that played so well in midweek against Cambridge City, with James Hatch missing the game through work commitments, Dan Chambers was recalled to the team in a wide midfield role.
The hosts started quickly and Sam Chapman was forced to make an important interception to foil an early attack. In the 5th minute Northwood broke up a Town attack and made a quick break which ended with a 30 yard effort from Burrell that flashed just wide of Lee Clark’s left hand post. Leighton launched an attack in the 12th minute when Lewis McBride played the ball through for Jake Bewley who ran into the box and was fouled by the keeper as he tried to take the ball round him. With Town appealing for the spot kick the referee took a long while to make up his mind and then booked Bewley for simulation, an absolutely ridiculous decision even if the keeper had got a touch on the ball. Leighton kept up the pressure and a shot across the goal by Leon Simpson was turned behind for a corner. In the 32nd minute Leighton had a great chance to take the lead, Lee Clark’s long kick was headed on by Leon Simpson and Lewis McBride ran onto the ball, lifted it over the keeper but also just wide of the far post with Ben Gallant chasing hard to try to get a decisive touch.
Town took the lead in the 55th minute through Deji Ojuroye who shot home following a corner kick on the right. A minute later with the home defence all at sea Leon Simpson broke down the right and played the ball across the face of the goal but a defender got the decisive touch and turned the ball behind for a corner. The Northwood manager then made a brave gamble by introducing all his three permitted substitutes in an effort to get back in the game. The hosts started to show more urgency at this stage and in the 64th minute they attacked down their right and full back Mensah cut inside and fired a fierce left footed shot towards the far post but Lee Clark got his hand to the ball to turn it around the post for a corner kick. In the 75th minute Leighton won a corner after a shot by Ben Gallant was blocked by a defender and had a good chance to increase their lead when Leon Simpson headed it across the goal but neither of the two Town players at the far post could make contact with the goal gaping. Northwood cleared the ball up the pitch and when the ball was crossed from the right Hawkins volleyed the ball home from close range to level the scores.
Leighton looked stunned by the equaliser and Northwood who had been lifted by the goal had another decent chance in the 80th minute when Mensah who was now operating as an extra forward flashed a shot just over the Leighton crossbar. The host took the lead for the first time in the 87th minute when Senior drove home a low shot after Lee Clark had just made a good save with his legs. Despite their best efforts Town could not find an equaliser which on the day was the least they deserved after a good team display.
Leighton must be wondering when their luck is going to change after a display which normally would have earned them at least a point and probably all three. The penalty decision early in the game was a decisive moment but again luck and the match officials were not on Town’s side.
Town will now entertain Burnham on Saturday desperate for points and also looking for their first home League win of the season.
TEAM: Clark, Maltay, Bewley, Chapman, Deaton, Hanley, Chambers( Cunningham ), McBride, Gallant, Simpson, Ojuroye. SUBS: 12.Bush, GK. Marsh, 14.Cunningham, 15. Blackwell 16.Hatch