Leighton Town 1 - 2 Northampton Sileby Rangers

Perhaps as expected it was a slow and tentative start from both sides but it was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the game with a testing free kick from Mark Forbes but Brad Kirkwood was more than equal to it and palmed it out for a corner which was cleared well by Craig Maisiri. The visitors were forced into an early substitution as Troy Johnston was forced off with a groin injury but it didn’t faze them as they defended in numbers, after a long free-kick from Jack Copson was claimed well by Kristopher Bartle in the Ranger’s goal.

In the early exchanges it was the visitors who had the better of the chances after a great ball from Dominic Okanu fell for Stuart MacMichael his low drive was very well saved by Kirkwood. Leighton were creating chances themselves and a lovely cross from Copson found the head of Matt Hewitt but Bartle was assertive in claiming the ball.

Leighton then had the chance of the game so far, Lolu Onabolu made a neat run and squared it to Aaron McKee but he mishit it and couldn’t poke it home. However it was the visitors from Northampton who made the first breakthrough of the game. A corner was swung into an unmarked MacMichael who coolly headed it home on the 25th minute.

Despite the setback the hosts were by no means out of the game, another Copson cross reached Matt Bateman it was a good header from the striker but lacked the pace and direction to really trouble Bartle. Then it was the visitors who could’ve extended their lead as Okanu crossed it to David Halliday who headed it from the far post that very nearly snuck in.

Leighton were making the balls into the box but there weren’t enough bodies in there at times as a free kick from McKee was very nearly met by the foot of Onabolu. Craig McKay was the next to have a chance for Town but he couldn’t quite get enough power on it and by halftime the visitors were fairly good value for their lead.

Town levelled the match 8 minutes into the second half as Onabolu got the ball on the near wing and 1 on 1 with Bartle he sublimely chipped the Sileby ‘keeper and it was an exquisite finish.

However the match was only level for around 3 minutes as the visitors went 2-1 up through striker Michael Byrnes. The ball was played into him and he looked offside but the referee said he was on and the Town backline didn’t play to the whistle as he poked it off the post and into the bottom corner.

To try and get back into the game Leighton made a double substitiution as Jack Stevens and Ross Hanley made way for Kai Gardener and James Towell but the visitors were unlucky not to go 3-1 up as a lovely free kick from Mark Forbes came off the underside of the bar.

Yet Leighton were very much still in the game and had a chance through Onabolu again to equalise a neat through ball was played into him but he dragged his shot just wide, but the referee had already blown for offside and wouldn’t have counted.

Onabolu was one of Town’s main attacking threats on the day and were it not for Bartle getting off his line very quickly he would’ve been in on goal again. Manager Paul Burgess decided a tactical change was the best move for the hosts and took off Hewitt for Mitch Hamilton in order to play 3 at the back and have more players further up the pitch.

There were not as many chances being created as Leighton would’ve liked but a long range shot from McKay was not too far wide. Northampton Sileby Rangers were very professional in seeing the game out but Jack Elliot was not too far wide with a chance in the Sileby box.

In the end Northampton Sileby Rangers did well to see out the rest of the game and were perhaps the better side on the day. The Leighton side still needs time to gel and find their feet but there were some promising individual performances of note.

Leighton Town start their Spartan South Midlands league campaign on Tuesday the 9th at home to Cockfosters before returning to Bell Close next Saturday at home to Welywn Garden City. Northampton Sileby Rangers face AFC Rushden away in the next round of the FA Cup.

Report by James D'Arcy