Hertford Town 5 - Leighton 1

If you like lots of goals Leighton Town are the team to watch at the moment, unfortunately most of them are going into the Leighton goal after a week that has seen them concede 16 goals in three matches. Interim Manager, Scott Reynolds has certainly had a baptism of fire in his new role and he must be wondering when his luck will change. Town included several new signings in their 16 for the game but they will obviously need more time to gel before performances will improve.

Hertford are arguably the best side that Town have played so far this season and it took them just 4 minutes to open the scoring after a rash challenge by Craig Maisiri gave away a penalty. Full back, Ed Taylor stepped up for the spot kick and sent Brad Kirkwood the wrong way with a cool finish. Leighton replied with a couple of decent efforts, the first from Lewis McBride who shot over the bar after some good work by the midfielder, and then new signing Josh Bamford shot well over from the edge of the box after some good play down Town's left flank created the chance.

Town's hopes of getting back into the game were knocked in the 20th minute when some excellent play by Lowen took him through the Town defence before he squared the ball across goal where a colleague was waiting to knock the ball home. Town were still passing the ball well but there was very little threat to the home goal and the hosts increased their lead in the 39th minute when Lowen who was fully 40 yards from goal spotted Kirkwood off his line and lifted his shot over the Town keeper in Beckhamesque style.
Any hopes Town had of finding a way back into the game effectively disappeared and a minute before half time the hosts further increased their lead when O'Connor stepped inside his marker before shooting left footed into the far corner of the net.

Town could only play for their pride in the second half and to be fair they worked hard and prevented the hosts from creating too many chances but their was also a lack of threat to the home goal until the 76 minute when Lewis McBride ran past two defenders before firing a low left footed shot into the corner of the net.

A few minutes before the end Leighton again displayed their defensive problems when Mark Smith underhit a back pass and Andreos beat Brad Kirkwood to the ball before going round the keeper and tapping the ball into the unguarded goal for Hertford's fifth.

Scott Reynolds now has a week to consider his options before next Saturday's game against Colney Heath and it is vital that Town get back to winning ways in order to turn their season around, no pressure there then!!!.