After their disappointing result last week at Edgware, Leighton were on the road once again as they made the trip across Bedfordshire to take on a Stotfold team who were 3 points and 3 places above town in the League. With a few players being unavailable Town had to make some changes in formation, Mark Smith returned to central defence, Ben Gallant dropped back into midfield and James Hatch returned up front after injury, new signing Martin Griggs made his full Town debut alongside Hatch after making his debut last week as a substitute.

On a sunny October afternoon Town started the game at high tempo and looked very confident and after only two minutes James Hatch headed the ball past his marker but he then shot wide of the keeper's left hand post. Town continued to press after this and in the 7th minute the versatile Craig Maisiri fired in a left footed shot but that also went wide of the goal. Town did not have to wait long to open the scoring because in the 8th minute a Griggs shot was deflected for a corner kick which was headed out by a defender but only as far as Aaron McKee who volleyed it into the net from about 25 yards. There was a short delay whilst the referee spoke to his assistant but the goal was allowed to stand. Two minutes later Town doubled their lead when some good play between Hatch and Griggs saw the latter fire a low shot into net.

Town continued to push forward and a few minutes after the goal Hatch had an effort turned round the post for a corner. In the 21st minute Griggs played a ball through to Hatch who slotted a low shot under the advancing keeper for Leighton's third. Stotfold responded and had the ball in the Town net a few minutes later but the assitant had his flag up for offside to Town's obvious relief. In the 30th minute Martin Grigg's saw the keeper was off his line and tried a spectacular effort from about 40 yards out but his shot sailed wide of the goal with keeper Pilsworth stranded in the middle of his area.

Leighton's play had some of its earlier intensity and they paid the price in the 34th minute following a needlessly conceded free kick wide on their right flank. Stotfold fired the ball into the box and it fell at the feet of Drew Cardines who promptly fired a low shot into the net to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.

Compared with the first half Leighton's game lacked the high tempo although in the 47th minute James Hatch fired in a shot from 20 yards out that Pilsworth just managed to save at the expense of a corner. The game was now lacking any real flow and became a scrappy affair with few chances on goal although Jack Sillitoe had to be alert to divert one Stotfold effort over the bar. Midway through the half a controversial incident occurred when Craig Maisiri knocked the ball past a defender inside the penalty area and then looked to be tripped but the referee booked the Town player for his Tom Daley impression, much to the disgust of the disappointed player.

In the 70th minute Martin Griggs casually lifted the ball over Pilsworth but his clever effort hit the left hand post to deny him a second goal. Town had another great chance to add to their tally when they won a corner on the right but Onabolu from a central position and close in put his header wide of the far post. With the clock ticking down Martin Griggs scored his second and Town's fourth goal with a crisp shot that gave Pilsworth no chance.

A good performance by Leighton, James Hatch showed how much he has been missed. Mark Smith was Town's man of the match but everyone played their part particularly in the first half. Town were disrupted in the second half by injuries to Jamie Clark and Ben Gallant that will probably make them unavailable for the game against Dunstable Town on Tuesday

NEXT GAMES

TUESDAY 18th BEDS SENIOR CUP HOME DUNSTABLE TOWN

SAT 22nd 3PM FRIENDLY HOME HILLINGDON BOROUGH PRICE ADULT £3 SEASON TICKET FREE

SAT 29th OCT 3PM LEAGUE HOME LONDON COLNEY

TUES 1st NOV 7:45 LEAGUE CUP HOME
RISBOROUGH RANGERS