Leighton Town 0 - Arlesey Town 2

Leighton Town continued their poor run of form into the first round of the Red Insure Cup, as two defensive mistakes were punished by Arlesey Town in this Bedfordshire derby.
The first half was played at a reasonably slow tempo by both sides, who seemed content to sit back and pass the ball around. The first real chance of the half however did go to the visitors on 9 minutes. Young goalkeeper Alfie Hickman’s ball forward was flicked on, and after finding its way to Christian Tavernier, he was well placed to shoot but slipped at the vital moment.
Arlesey came close once again less than 10 minutes later. After a foul by Town right back Pierre Hazet, Dave Deeney swung the ball in dangerously, but the ball sailed through everybody as nobody went on to attack it.
With Arlesey dominating the opening exchanges, Town keeper Aaron Bufton would have to be on fine form, and he was, reacting superbly to a fierce low volley in the area after a goalmouth scramble. Bufton was at it again just before the half hour mark. A long throw in from Ash Deeney (something that would be causing Leighton problems a lot of the game) was flicked inadvertently towards his own goal by Yamin Mousel, but Bufton was on hand to punch over for an Arlesey corner.
Just a couple of minutes later, Leighton fashioned their first real chance of the game. Bufton’s long goal kick was flicked on by forward Ash Woodfine to Gallant, whose exquisite back heel found Craig Maisiri, who touched it back inside to Woodfine, but his heavy touch allowed the defender to clear with the goal open. From the resulting corner, Hickman was forced into a wonderful save when Matt Hall powered his header towards goal, but Hickman was equal to it, reacting to push it away.
The first half then was played much like it started, with both teams seeming content to pass it around. Both teams went into the break probably knowing that they could produce a lot more than they had shown. 0-0 at half time.
Arlesey were at it right from the whistle in the second half, and less than 30 seconds in they produced another fine stop from Bufton. A long ball was played forward towards Luke Abraham, and after bringing it down, he tried to place it in the far corner, but Bufton got down quickly and got a vital touch to tip it round the post.
Leighton also came close in the early stages of the second half. From an Arlesey corner that Aaron McKee hooked away, Hazet brought the ball forward and played it down the line to Maisiri. His driving run was almost rewarded when the eventual cross struck the outside of the post and Arlesey were able to clear.
They came close again not long later. Jack Copson delivered a cross from the left, and after controlling and turning brilliantly, Gallant fired just over with his left foot strike.
After that though, the visitors started to take control of the game, and they thought they had gone ahead when Abraham delivered a corner, and Tavernier bundled the ball in on the line. However the referee ruled it out for a foul on Bufton, who was bundled into the goal along with the ball.
It was barely a couple of minutes later though when Arlesey did get the first goal of the game. James Hatch, on at half time, headed away another dangerous throw from Deeney, Jack Westlake (another substitute) tried to clear it further but it was mishit, and after bouncing once, the ball was rifled into the bottom corner from the edge of the area by Abraham. It was a deserved goal for Arlesey who had looked the most dangerous throughout the game, and such a sweet strike from Abraham deserved the goal it gave them.
Abraham was looking dangerous now, and almost scored another stunner with their next attack. After allowing an overhead ball to bounce once, he volleyed across Bufton who was rooted to the spot, but the ball crashed back off the foot of the post and Leighton were able to clear.
In a bid to get something out of the game, Town introduced Jordan Gurney with 10 minutws to go to try and inject some pace into the team and give it one last push. However this had completely the opposite effect, and in the dying minutes, Arlesey were awarded a penalty. Yamin Mousel was the culprit, and he was handed a straight red card for his last ditch tackle on Abraham. Christian Tavernier stepped up to take it, and was initially denied by Bufton who saved brilliantly down low to his left, but the ball went straight back to Tavernier who was able to poke in the rebound and put the game beyond Leighton.
It wasn’t a fantastic performance from either side tonight, but Arlesey were the ones that took their chances when they came, and that’s how you win football games.
Leighton’s next game is this coming Saturday at home to Beaconsfield SYCOB, 3 o’clock kick off at Bell Close.

By Nat Goodlad