Trophy dream falls flat for Leighton

Leighton started strong with Mark Bunker winning a free kick with 3 minutes on the clock, but the body of Stuart Boardley defended the good strike by Michael Lyon easily.

Dave Murphy came close again for Leighton when Phil Draycott played in the ball from yet another free kick but it went just wide of the post.

7 minutes in and Danny Watson spotted Danny Gay off his line, he ran towards him, sending him off balance and walked the ball into the net putting Leighton into a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived when in the 9th minute Chris Crook was unable to stop Leon Ottley-Gooch's shot and Leiston drew level.
Dan Green made a silly mistake trying to kick the ball down the field and Conor Hubble took advantage of his mistake sending the ball flying into the net, putting them 2-1 up after 13 minutes.

Leighton tried to claw another goal back quickly, Bunker crossed the ball into the box and found the head of Alvin Rajaram, but the ball went straight into Gay's hands.

Leighton continued to close down the ball and when Watson headed the ball straight to Draycott's feet, it looked like they were in for a goal, but the ball skimmed just over the bar.

34 minutes in and Green made a brilliant diving save to deny Leiston of a goal but all his hard work was undone when he went to stop Joe Francis in his tacks and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Gareth Heath stepped up to the spot, Green dived the correct way but Heath's shot was low and hard finding the back of the net easily. A foul was committed on Rajaram just before halt time, resulting in a yellow card for Boardley.

With the second half underway it wasn't long before Leiston were pushing for another goal. A shot from Ottley-Gooch was pushed over the bar and out for a corner by Green.

Handball by Bunker straight from the corner was given by the referee and Heath once again was on hand to send the ball into the corner of the net, this time sending Green the wrong way, making it 4-1 to Leiston after 48 minutes.

A double substitution for Leighton took place in the 55th minute bringing off Bunker and Michael Lyon, for Ash Farmer and Aaron Morgan.

A good ball in by Draycott found the fresh legs of Farmer, he struck the ball and it curved towards Gay and but was easily saved. A vital move by Crook stopped Joe Francis in his tracks towards goal saving what could have been a potential 5th goal for Leiston.

Leighton made their final substitution in the 64th minute bringing off Gary Ridgway for Paul Lyon.

71 minutes in and it looked like Draycott had scored from a free kick but the ball had fallen just wide of the post and landed in the side netting. With Leiston 4-1 up it didn't get any better for Leighton when Rajaram was shown a yellow card.

Leighton were awarded a free kick for hand ball in the 80th minute and Draycott's shot was pushed just over the bar by Gay.
Leighton were left stranded in the 82nd minute when Tom Winter was completely unmarked and his beautifully struck ball went straight into the back of the net, making it 5-1 to Leiston.

With only 4 minutes remaining Rajaram managed to win a penalty in the box for Leighton, Blake Saker was shown his second yellow card of the game and was sent off the pitch. Watson stepped up to the ball sending his shot low and hard into the back of the net.

A last ditch attempt for just one more goal came from a Morgan cross into Watson but he could only hit the side netting, leaving the game to end 5-2 to Leiston.

We wish Leiston the best of luck in the next round and for the rest of the season.

Leightons next game is at home to Barton Rovers on Saturday 8th November, kick off 3pm.

Leiston FC

Team- Gay, Saker, Boardley, Mitchell, Jefford, Tann, Winter, Heath, Ottley-Gouch, Hubble, Francis

Subs- Merritt, Velzian, Block, Rossis

Leighton Town FC

Team- Green, Rajaram, Ridgway, Goodman, Crook, Murphy, Bunker, M. Lyon, Taylor, Watson, Draycott

Subs- P. Lyon, Morgan, Farmer, Halia, Thompkins

Attendance-90

By Hannah Sellman