Leighton Town 0-2 Cockfosters

MATCH REPORT

Leighton Town 0-2 Cockfosters

After both sides lost their opening FA Cup games it was important to get that out of the system for the opening Spartan South Midlands league game at Bell Close. Leighton made 2 changes to the side that lost in the FA Cup with Louis Norton and Mitch Hamilton replacing Jack Stevens and Ross Hanley.

Both sides looked nervy as the game started but in the very early
exchanges Leighton were pressing their opponents trying to force them into making mistakes. However it was the hosts Leighton who looked like they may make the first mistake after Jerry Maja made an incisive run on the right wing and shot low on the near side, but Brad Kirkwood did well to get down low and palm it out.

Cockfosters were forced into making a substitute early on when George Ironton limped off to be replaced by Dan O’Connor, from the resulting free-kick Stephen Bull put a long high hopeful ball into the box and Kirkwood had to be alert to claim it quickly.

There was nothing too clear cut from either side and Leighton’s first
half chance of the game came from a hopeful cross to
Matt Bateman, it was a good ball into the striker but just a tad too high for him to try and head home from a dangerous position. Lolu Onabolu like on Saturday was trying to run at the Cockfosters defence but was struggling to break down a compact defence as he tried to play a square ball to a surrounded Bateman.

Bateman was Leighton’s target man in this first half and a free kick
reached his head, his effort was just off target. Cockfosters were
looking like a depleted side as they had to make yet another
substitute in the first half with O’Connor the sub himself making way
for Jamie Brandon.

Both sides were making silly little niggly fouls and after Jack Copson caught a Cockfosters player the resulting FK found
Ramone-Cassidy-Sinclair who tried an ambitious overhead kick but he couldn’t control it and it skewed well wide.

By half-time 0-0 was about right chances were at a premium for both sides, it was too close to call and on paper looked like a bore draw after 45 minutes.

The visitors came out of the traps that little bit quicker and a
Cassidy-Sinclair cross very nearly reached Maja who was in a scoring position. At the other end of the pitch Juan David Triving was coping well in the Cockfosters goal and was off his line very quickly to claim a through ball intended for Onabolu or ‘’Bosh’’ as he’s affectionately known by the players and the staff. It was then Onabolu again with the hosts best effort of the game he was 1 on 1 with David Triving the keeper came out the better after a low venomous shot from the Leighton striker.

The visitors from London took the lead soon after on the 52nd minute after a long pinpoint ball from Carl Resch somehow reached Maja a good 30 yards away he took it down and slotted coolly into the bottom corner past Kirkwood. Leighton didn’t expect it and it was an easy finish from Maja.

Leighton were struggling to create chances but they were knocking on the door as Hamilton had a shot blocked on the edge of the area. Cockfosters then had the chance to make it 2-0 as a free header was just nodded over the bar.

Onabolu was through on goal again for Leighton but as he shot for the bottom corner again the Goalkeeper reacted very well to it and saved easily. He was replaced by Jack Harris not long later but it was on the counter attack where Cockfosters looked dangerous and indeed how they got their second goal on the 73rd minute. A quick counter attack meant that Jamie Brandon was able to play in Maja who rounded Kirkwood and slotted home for his second of the game.

Leighton straight away then made a double substitution to try and get back into the game with Mark Reilly and Kai Gardener coming on for Jack Elliot and Jack Copson. They had a good chance not long after this after Aaron McKee played a little through ball to Harris who tried to hit it first time but he skewed it wide from just inside the box. However the substitutes were getting involved and a nice cross from Hamilton met Gardner but he could only plant his header at the ‘keeper.

Cockfosters weren’t sitting on their laurels in the latter stages of
the second half and were trying for a third goal and weren’t far away from getting one when Maja crossed for substitute Evans Omondi but it was just a tad high for him to nod on. Cockfosters saw the game out and just about edged it. The first half was honors even but when they had clear cut chances they were clinical and that proved to be the difference on the night where a 0-0 looked very likely.

Leighton Town are at home for their next 2 league games first up are Welwyn Garden City on Saturday the 13th before Hertford Town visit on the 16th. Leighton’s first away game is at Tring Athletic a week
Saturday.

Report by James D'Arcy