Leighton Town 4 - London Tigers 0

After a promising 1-1 draw last time out at home to Colney Heath, the Reds would’ve been looking to build on that with 3 points at home to a struggling London Tigers side. Scott Reynolds made 1 change in that line up from last week with Lorel Smith coming in for Marcus Campbell.
Leighton started brightly intensity all over the pitch trying to dispossess the visitors at every opportunity. This early intensity paid off as in the 6th minute Leighton went 1-0 up. Lewis McBride played a lovely ball over the top and Tigers ‘keeper Ini Amaebet along with Martin Griggs went for it, Griggs was the winner and coolly tapped home into an empty net.
Leighton were playing well and were on top at this point and they went close again, a neat ball found James Hatch but he couldn’t quite convert. Griggs the scorer then went close again from a McBride free-kick, Griggs made a great header that Amaebet had to claw over the bar but the referee had already blown the whistle for offside.
It wasn’t too long before Leighton went 2-0 up in the 20th minute. McBride was fouled after making a darting run down the near side and last week’s goalscorer Vicenzo Greco stepped up to take it. It was an extremely acute angle but somehow Greco managed to curl it in and it was a superb strike.
The London Tigers’ defence was looking extremely fragile thus far and the home side were doing everything they could to exploit this, Smith made a great ball across goal to Griggs but he was off-balance as he took it and shot narrowly wide.
Town should’ve been 3-0 up when Greco’s shot was palmed to Griggs he then shot with space and unluckily hit the post.
London Tigers’ first major chance came when Jordan Williams made an incisive run into the Leighton box, however just as he shaped to shoot James Towell was there to clear it for a corner which was then cleared by the Reds.
Leighton were still the more likely team to score next and Smith was again unlucky as a well hit strike was saved by Amaebet.
The front three of Griggs, Greco and Smith were linking up rather well and Griggs should’ve had a third; Greco’s shot was blocked, Griggs had space and time but blasted over.
It was a great half from Leighton, but credit to London Tigers they were improved in the second half. They were restricting Town more but still didn’t really create much of note themselves. Smith was running the Tigers’ defence ragged though and after a scintillating run his shot was saved rather comfortably by Amaebet.
The Tigers had only really had a couple of half chances so far but when Micheal O’Donnell had time to shoot he blasted it over the goal.
Greco was extremely not to get a second goal. Like with his first he tried something audacious a 20 yard strike with his weaker foot, it clattered on the underside of the crossbar and bounced out that would’ve been a spectacular goal had that gone in.
Smith then arguably outdid Greco with a stunning third goal of his own in the 77th minute. It started from a Louis Norton freekick that was meant for Griggs he got a flick on from it, it reached Smith who from around 20 yards out smashed it into the bottom left corner, it was a simply stunning effort.
Leighton were simply not content with three goals and Griggs once again found himself unfortunate not to get another. Towell made a lovely cross and Griggs’ diving header was narrowly wide of the post. Griggs was doing everything he could to get a second goal and after some lovely Town passing his next effort was clawed over the bar.
Leighton wrapped up this emphatic performance in stoppage time with a fourth goal from McBride. It was a nice ball across goal from Greco, it found McBride in space in the box he turned and slotted past Amaebet, although he got a touch he couldn’t keep it out. 4-0 it ended and it was a superb performance from the boys, and it was needed to start pulling away from the bottom half as this game looked to be a 6 pointer. I’m sure Scott Reynolds and the boys will be extremely pleased tonight.
The boys are on the road for the next 2 weeks away on the 10th to Welwyn Garden City before travelling to Cockfosters on the 17th. Leighton Town return to Bell Close on the 27th where they take on Crawley Green.
Team: Sillitoe, Towell, Norton, Condon, Hatch (McMillan), McKee, Griggs ©, Greco, Smith (Campbell), McBride, Maisiri (Hewitt)
Att: 80
Report By
James D'Arcy