Ashford Town 1 - 0 Leighton Town

Ashford Town 1 - 0 Leighton Town
After an easily forgettable game against a young Ashford team, Leighton have only themselves to blame for this defeat after some poor defensive work allowed the home side to secure all three points thanks to a 12th minute strike.
Leighton had to make some changes to the side that drew with AFC Hayes last week. New signing Haydn Dodge started in goal in place of Kevin Marsh who was injured and Leon Simpson moved into the attack with Ben Gallant playing in midfield in place of the Shane Hill who was suffer from a leg injury.
Town created a chance after just 2 minutes when Gallant chipped the ball towards the far post but Simpson’s close range header went wide. Ashford replied in the 5th minute when they cut in from their left flank but Dodge made a good block at his near post to end the threat. In the 12th minute Town were in possession in the Ashford half but then had to play the ball back to their own keeper who hacked the ball away, Ashford regained possession of the ball as Town struggled to clear their lines and the ball was passed wide to Bitmead who fired a fierce shot between Dodge and the near post to take the lead. Much of the first half was battled out in midfield as both sides gave the ball away cheaply and neither side looked a serious attacking threat. Town went close to scoring an equaliser in the 40th minute when Jake Bewley on the right raced past a defender but his right foot shot struck the near post before rebounding to safety.
Early in the second half Ashford created a chance when the ball was crossed into the box but two of the strikers were unable to get a decisive touch and Town cleared their lines. Town introduced another of their new signings to the game when Layne Eadie came on for Leon Simpson in the 65th minute. He went into the left sided midfield slot with Ben Gallant taking over from Simpson in a central attacking position. The change saw Town playing at a better tempo and at last they were starting to push the hosts back as they gained some attacking moment. Soon after coming on Eadie laid the ball off to Enzo Silvestri but his shot was deflected for a corner. Town went close to an equaliser when they won a corner on the left and from McBride’s kick, Silvestri headed towards goal where it struck the keeper who did not even see the ball. Lewis McBride then fired in a shot but the ball went wide. Ben Gallant then hooked an effort wide before Ashford went back on the attack. A terrific diagonal ball was played towards the far post where it was met with a powerful headed effort but Dodge in the Town goal produced a wonderful reflex save to turn the ball for a corner. In the very last minute the hosts created the last chance of the game when the ball was hooked back across goal and one of their attackers headed wide of the goal at full stretch.
After some good recent performances Town looked sluggish in this game until the last quarter when they upped the tempo and started to cause the hosts some problems. There was no lack of effort but defensive lapses have cost them dearly this season and the goal they conceded here can be added to the list. Town will need to step up to the plate on Tuesday when they play at Biggleswade United in the Beds Senior Cup if they want to stay in the competition.
TEAM; Dodge, Maltay, Copson, Cunningham, Deaton, Silvestri, McBride, Hanley, Simpson(Eadie65, Gallant, Bewley. SUBS: 12. Eadie, 14- McNulty, 15: Bather, 16: Carl Harrison. Att- 102