Northampton Sileby Rangers 0 - Leighton Town 3

Town made the short trip to Northampton hoping for better luck than in recent seasons when they have been knocked out of the competition by teams from lower level. Town were wearing their new light blue away kit sponsored by Keith Elkington Transport Ltd for the first time.

Ben Gallant was again unavailable due to injury and new signing Leon Parkes was chosen to lead the Town attack.
The opening minutes were very scrappy but the hosts looked the more settled side and in the 7th minute only an excellent covering tackle by Matt Hall denied the home side an excellent chance.

Town had to work extremely hard to clear their lines from the resulting corner kick. A few minutes after this Kris Stephens had to use all his experience to halt a quick break by the home side.

Leighton’s first attack came with a good move down the right but the move ended when the attempted cross went behind for a goal kick. Two minutes after this Sileby again looked threatening when McMichael went past Aaron Bufton in the Town goal but then wasted his chance by shooting into the side netting. Town created a good chance on the 20th minute when new signing Leon Parkes ran through the home defence but then shot weakly at the keeper. A few minutes later James Hatch broke through on the left flank and chipped the ball across to the far post, when the ball was headed back into the centre Shayne Almond lifted his shot way over the bar. A minute later Leighton won a corner kick and Hatch’s fine headed effort was kicked off the line by a covering defender. In the 26th minute Town took the lead when they won a free kick just outside the penalty area in a central position, Shayne Almond’s free kick struck a defender in the wall and was deflected across the goal into the far corner with the keeper diving in the opposite direction. Town were looking the better side now and in the 32nd minute a Brown cross from the right was headed just wide by Parkes. A minute after this Town doubled their lead when a clever pass inside the full back set Brown clear and although his shot did not appear to be that powerful his effort proved too much for Waddy in the home goal. James Hatch also had a chance when he ran onto a through ball but his shot went a fraction wide of the far post. Town then won a corner and only a good save by the keeper kept out Shane Almond’s volley. In the last minute of the half Town looked as if they would score a third when Leon Parkes left two defenders trailing in his wake but he then rolled a timid effort straight at the keeper.

Town started the second half on the front foot and James Hatch got clear of the home defence but he then shot into the side netting from a tight angle. Town’s next serious effort came in the 57th minute when Keiron Schmidt’s well struck shot from 25 yards required a good save from Waddy.

After 65 minutes Town made two substitutions and these reaped immediate dividends when James Hatch was able to slot home from 4 yards after Nathan Olukanmi who had just come on as a substitute squared a low ball across the face of the goal. Sileby never gave up despite being three down and Okanu shot just wide of the post after the home side were awarded a free kick. Leighton thought they had scored again in the 71st minute with a well worked goal but the referee frustrated Town by awarding the home side a free kick, presumably for offside. James Hatch created a chance for himself when he cut inside on to his right foot but the normally reliable Town captain was way off target with his attempt to curl the ball round the keeper into the far side of the goal. Then right at the end of the game Almond had a shot blocked after swapping passes with Semenerio and then Jack Harris shot just wide.
Despite taking a while to find their feet Town were comfortable winners at the end of the day and they will now face Cogenhoe in the next round on 12th September.

TEAM: 1:Bufton 2:Jenkins 3:P.Brown 4:Stephens 5:Hall 6:Westlake 7:D.Brown 8:Schmidt. 9:Parkes 10: Hatch(Capt) 11: Almond.
Subs: 12 Olukanmi(9- 65), 14:Semenerio(6-65), 15:Harris(10-85), 16:Maisiri, 17:Goss, 18:Birch.

NEXT GAMEs
Away : Barton Rovers Mon 31st Aug 3pm
Home Ware. Sat 5th Sept 3pm