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Sat 03 Dec 2011 · Division One Central
First TeamFleet Town
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LEIGHTON TOWN 3 - 1 FLEET TOWN
Ken Slatter4 Dec 2011 - 21:11
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In the first ever League meeting between the two sides Leighton ran out deserved winners
LEIGHTON TOWN 3 - 1 FLEET TOWN
In the first ever League meeting between the two sides Leighton ran out deserved winners after an improved second half performance saw two goals by Ben Gallant and Jake Bewley secure the points to give new Team Manager, Craig Wells his first win. Town are now unbeaten at home in their last three home League games and climbed above the visitors as a result of this win.
After their midweek cup defeat by BPremier Division , Bedford Town, Leighton made one change to their line up with Lee Clark replacing Kevin Marsh in goal. Leighton took a while to get into their stride and in the early minutes the visitors looked the livelier side without causing the Town defence any problems and the first real attack of the game came from Leighton when Jake Bewley raced down the left and crossed a low ball towards the near post but Deji Ojuroye was foiled by a defender at the expense of a corner. Town took the lead in the 23rd minute following some good work on the right by Jake Bewley, the midfielder cut inside and looked as if he was ready to shoot for goal but lifted an excellent ball beyond the far post where Lewis McBride outjumped a defender and headed the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the net. Fleet would consider themselves to be unlucky to be behind but despite some good possession they did not trouble Lee Clark in the Town goal. The visitors scored an equaliser in the 41st minute when Town conceded a stupid free kick about 40 yards from goal. The ball was played towards the far post where King outjumped the Town defence to head into the far corner of the net.
Town started the second half in a more positive mood and in the 52nd minute they regained the lead following some good work down the right by Lewis McBride. The Town player drove a low ball in from the flank and Ben Gallant was first to the ball and fired a low left footed shop past the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later Leighton put together a wonderful five man move to take the ball the whole length of the pitch but just when the goal of the season looked a possible outcome Deji Ojuroye could not find enough power with his shot and the keeper made a comfortable save. Three minutes later after some more good passing and movement Enzo Silvestri shot well wide from a decent position. Andre Maltay and Lewis McBride then combined down the right wing but the final cross was too deep and the opportunity was wasted. A minute later McBride and Gallant combined, before the latter’s shot was blocked by a defender at the expense of a throw in. In the 73rd minute Leon Simpson replaced Ojuroye with Gallant dropping back into midfield. Fleet’s first real chance of the half did not occur until the 80th minute when they won a free kick just outside the Town penalty area but the Town defensive wall stood firm and cleared the danger. Town scored the decisive third goal in the 87th minute when Enzo Silvestri drove the ball upfield towards the left hand corner, Fleet goalkeeper, Pryce went out to the wing to collect the ball and appeared to have plenty of time but then lost the ball to Leon Simpson who then ran toward goal before laying the ball back to Jake Bewley who drove it into the net. Town went straight back onto the attack after the restart and Bewley drove the ball low across the goal but just too far in front of Ben Gallant . Then in the final minute McBride and Bewley combined well but McBride lost control at the crucial
After a slow start Town eventually got into their stride in the second half they were much the better of the two teams. Jake Bewley and Lewis McBride caused the visitors problems down the flanks all afternoon and it was fitting that they were both amongst the goal scorers. Apart from the equaliser Town defended well as a unit and Lee Clark never had to save a shot all afternoon. Craig Wells must have been delighted with his first win as Manager but his team now face another tough “six point”’ game next Saturday at Bedfont, against a team that finished just behind Leighton last season.
Team: Clark, Maltay, Chapman, Fryer, Deaton, Silvestri, McBride, Ojuroye(Simpson 73), Gallant, Hanley, Bewley. Subs : GK- Marsh, 12-Copson, 14-May, 15- Simpson, 16- Chambers. Att;119
In the first ever League meeting between the two sides Leighton ran out deserved winners after an improved second half performance saw two goals by Ben Gallant and Jake Bewley secure the points to give new Team Manager, Craig Wells his first win. Town are now unbeaten at home in their last three home League games and climbed above the visitors as a result of this win.
After their midweek cup defeat by BPremier Division , Bedford Town, Leighton made one change to their line up with Lee Clark replacing Kevin Marsh in goal. Leighton took a while to get into their stride and in the early minutes the visitors looked the livelier side without causing the Town defence any problems and the first real attack of the game came from Leighton when Jake Bewley raced down the left and crossed a low ball towards the near post but Deji Ojuroye was foiled by a defender at the expense of a corner. Town took the lead in the 23rd minute following some good work on the right by Jake Bewley, the midfielder cut inside and looked as if he was ready to shoot for goal but lifted an excellent ball beyond the far post where Lewis McBride outjumped a defender and headed the ball back across the goalkeeper and into the net. Fleet would consider themselves to be unlucky to be behind but despite some good possession they did not trouble Lee Clark in the Town goal. The visitors scored an equaliser in the 41st minute when Town conceded a stupid free kick about 40 yards from goal. The ball was played towards the far post where King outjumped the Town defence to head into the far corner of the net.
Town started the second half in a more positive mood and in the 52nd minute they regained the lead following some good work down the right by Lewis McBride. The Town player drove a low ball in from the flank and Ben Gallant was first to the ball and fired a low left footed shop past the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later Leighton put together a wonderful five man move to take the ball the whole length of the pitch but just when the goal of the season looked a possible outcome Deji Ojuroye could not find enough power with his shot and the keeper made a comfortable save. Three minutes later after some more good passing and movement Enzo Silvestri shot well wide from a decent position. Andre Maltay and Lewis McBride then combined down the right wing but the final cross was too deep and the opportunity was wasted. A minute later McBride and Gallant combined, before the latter’s shot was blocked by a defender at the expense of a throw in. In the 73rd minute Leon Simpson replaced Ojuroye with Gallant dropping back into midfield. Fleet’s first real chance of the half did not occur until the 80th minute when they won a free kick just outside the Town penalty area but the Town defensive wall stood firm and cleared the danger. Town scored the decisive third goal in the 87th minute when Enzo Silvestri drove the ball upfield towards the left hand corner, Fleet goalkeeper, Pryce went out to the wing to collect the ball and appeared to have plenty of time but then lost the ball to Leon Simpson who then ran toward goal before laying the ball back to Jake Bewley who drove it into the net. Town went straight back onto the attack after the restart and Bewley drove the ball low across the goal but just too far in front of Ben Gallant . Then in the final minute McBride and Bewley combined well but McBride lost control at the crucial
After a slow start Town eventually got into their stride in the second half they were much the better of the two teams. Jake Bewley and Lewis McBride caused the visitors problems down the flanks all afternoon and it was fitting that they were both amongst the goal scorers. Apart from the equaliser Town defended well as a unit and Lee Clark never had to save a shot all afternoon. Craig Wells must have been delighted with his first win as Manager but his team now face another tough “six point”’ game next Saturday at Bedfont, against a team that finished just behind Leighton last season.
Team: Clark, Maltay, Chapman, Fryer, Deaton, Silvestri, McBride, Ojuroye(Simpson 73), Gallant, Hanley, Bewley. Subs : GK- Marsh, 12-Copson, 14-May, 15- Simpson, 16- Chambers. Att;119
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