LEIGHTON TOWN 1 - 1 ST.NEOTS

LEIGHTON TOWN 1 - 1 ST. NEOTS
Leighton’s extended their unbeaten run to four games after an entertaining draw against League Leaders, St. Neots at Bell Close on Saturday. Only a late equaliser in the 79th minute stopped Town taking all three points after they gave a determined performance that looked as if it would earn them all the points, but it would be hard to deny the visitors credit5 for their second half performance and most Leighton fans in their best crowd of the season would agree that the visitors are the best side that have visited Bell Close so far.
Manager, Craig Wells made three changes to last week’s line up, Charlie Cunningham returned in central defence, Ben Gallant returned as the main striker with Leon Simpson dropping to the bench and Jack Copson took over at left back from the suspended Jake Bewley.
Town started with the wind behind them but it was the visitors who started better as you might expect from a side in their position. Town’s first threat came in the 5th minute when Layne Eadie hustled the Webb the St. Neots captain and took the ball of him and when the Leighton man drove in a low cross it was diverted behind for a corner kick which was cleared without difficulty by the visitors defence. St. Neots replied when Lewis Hilliard drove in a low shot but Kevin Marsh in the Town goal made a comfortable save. The visitors also had the next chance when Kanudu fired a left footed shot across goal but wide of Marsh’s left hand post. Three minutes later Ben Gallant stole the ball from Webb but his low cross was just too far in front of Eadie and the visitors cleared the danger. There was a lengthy delay after Sean Bishop received a nose injury but just after he returned to the pitch Leighton took the lead through Ben Gallant. Enzo Silvestri won the ball in the air and Gallant reacted quickly to pounce on the loose ball and drive a fierce shot into the net with his right foot. Unfortunately for Town, Enzo Silvestri had to leave the field just after the goal with a calf injury, Kyal McNulty replaced him in central midfield. Town nearly scored a second goal soon after when Lewis McBride fired in a fierce half volley from just outside the area but unfortunately for Leighton the ball struck the wrong side of the post and crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.
In the 49th minute the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the box after a foul on Mackey but Kevin Marsh saved Hilliard’s free kick. In Leighton’s first attack of the half Copson and Eadie created a half chance for Gallant but he was unable to find enough power using the outside of his foot. In the 62nd minute Kevin Marsh made a wonderful save to deny Mwanyongo who had cut in from the right before firing a fierce shot towards the Town goal, Charlie Cunningham then bravely threw his body in the way of the follow up shot. St. Neots had upped their game in the second half and a lot of the play was now taking place in the Leighton half but Town still looked reasonably comfortable in defence with good work from Cunningham and Deaton limiting the chances available to the visitors. In the 69thminute Kanudu tried his luck from 18 yards but Marsh was not unduly troubled by his effort. In the 78th minute a dangerous looking diagonal ball into the Town box was defended really well by Kyal McNulty at the far post at the expense of a corner. This was followed by two more corners on the opposite side of the pitch and after the ball fell loose from the second kick the visitors centre back, Chris Hope was on hand to knock the loose ball home from close range for the equaliser. Five minutes later Mwanyongo cut in from the right and his left footed shot fizzed past the far post. The game ended with St. Neots on the attack but Town defended well for the point they thoroughly deserved for their spirited performance. This was an entertaining game where Town gave as good as they got in the first half but the visitors showed in the second half why they are at the top of the table but Town’s young side contained them well until the equaliser and can now look forward with confidence to another tough fixture when they entertain Aylesbury FC at Bell close on Tuesday night. If Leighton avoid defeat it will be their best run of the season but this game will be difficult as games between the two sides are always close encounters and it is sure to be well contested by an Aylesbury side who are fourth from bottom of the table and desperate for points to avoid relegation.
TEAM: Marsh, Maltay, Copson, Cunningham, Deaton, Bishop, McBride, Silvestri(McNulty 37mins)Gallant, Hanley, Eadie.
Subs: 12: Simpson, 14: Chapman, 15:McNulty, GK: Dodge. Attendance: 245
Fixtures:
TUESDAY 6th MARCH 7:45 LEIGHTON TOWN V AYLESBURY FC EVO STIK LEAGUE
Wed 7TH MARCH 7:45 AYLESBURY UTD. V BROXBOURNE BOROUGH SPARTAN S.M.LEAGUE
SAT 10TH MARCH 3PM BURNHAM V LEIGHTON TOWN EVO STIK LEAGUE.
MON 12TH MARCH 7:45 LEIGHTON RES V HAREFIELD RESERVES SUBURBAN LEAGUE
TUES 14TH MARCH 7;45 BEDWORTH UTD. V LEIGHTON TOWN EVO STIK LEAGUE