LEIGHTON TOWN 1 - 1 AFC Hayes

LEIGHTON TOWN 1 - 1 AFC HAYES
Leighton took a point from this game after a much improved second half performance and it was difficult to determine which side was sixth in the table and which team was sixth from the bottom as Leighton played with a renewed vigour after the interval. Although he was disappointed with the result last week Town Manager, Craig Wells only made one change to last week’s line up , recalling Ben Gallant in attack in place of Leon Simpson.
In front of Town’s lowest home League gate of the season and with a very blustery wind blowing down the pitch both sides struggled to get into any sort of pattern although Town carried the game to their opponents without creating any clear cut chances. In the 18th minute Jake Bewley drove a cross in from the left but it was just too high for Lewis McBride at the far post. Town’s next chance did not arrive until the 32nd minute. Jake Bewley beat a couple of players down the right flank before pulling the ball back towards Ross Hanley but the Midfielder on his weaker left foot never really caught hold of the ball and his shot was blocked by a defender. Just after this both teams were involved in a midfield scuffle that ended up with 3 players being shown a yellow card as the referee struggled to keep control. The visitors went in front against the run of play in the 41st minute when Town conceded a corner on the right and when the ball fell loose Tom Duffy smashed his shot into the net to give Hayes an undeserved lead.
Town started the second half in a more determined manner and started to pass the ball around with some style and retain possession better than they did in the first half. In the 75th minute Town equalised after they were awarded a free kick in the midfield area, despite their protests that the referee should have let play continue. Jake Bewley drove the ball into the Hayes penalty area and Stuart Deaton, who had a superb game in central defence, showed his attacking qualities and rose above his markers to head the ball into the net. In the 40th minute after another good Town move Lewis McBride laid a pass into Shane Hill but his low shot was well saved by the keeper. Town looked full of confidence after their equaliser and after another bout of good passing Jack Copson hit a crisp left footed shot across the goal but just wide of the far post. Town attacked again a minute later but after a good build up the home defence cleared the ball before it could find a Town player. Just before the final whistle Jake Bewley beat 4 players in a mazy run before he was crudely brought down before he could get near the penalty area. Hayes looked dangerous from a couple of late free kicks but Town held firm and over the 90 minutes probably should have taken all three points.
Town showed in the second half that there is not a great deal of difference between most of the teams in this League, and with a little luck might have won the game.
TEAM: Marsh, Maltay, Copson, Cunningham, Deaton , Hill, Silvestri, Hanley, McBride, Gallant, Bewley
SUBS 12: Simpson, GK: Ambler, 14:Harrison, 15:Igori, 16:May. None Used
Att : 71
A young Leighton Reserve side lost their fixture at Berkhamsted by 4 goals to 1.