Northampton On Chenecks 1 - Leighton Town 0

After 3 wins on the bounce in League and Cup, Leighton’s good recent run of form came to an end in a tricky Vase tie away to Northampton ON Chenecks.

Leighton started brightly Marcus Campbell won the ball in the Chenecks half and broke, he tried to chip the keeper but his effort was wide. In the early exchanges Leighton were the better side and Ben Gallant did very well to turn and get a shot away after being surrounded by defenders but his shot was always rising.

Town were extremely unlucky not to go 1-0 up when Bateman hit the post, he had done nearly everything right he rounded the keeper and kept his shot low but it came off the near post and was cleared well by Chenecks.

Both sides have had indifferent starts to their League campaigns and the first half was a very tentative scrappy affair, neither side were really creating any chances of note personified by a Chenecks long range effort going well wide of the mark.

The host’s best chance so far though was from a free header in a good area but it lacked pace and was easy work for Jack Sillitoe in the Leighton goal. The Chenecks then had another free header not long after but it was wide and didn’t really trouble Sillitoe.

The 0-0 score at halftime was a fair reflection of the game neither side had really created a lot and whilst Northampton were in the Leighton half a lot they never really looked threatening and the defence looked fairy comfortable.

Northampton started the second half the better side and duly went ahead on the 50th minute through Calvin Budd, the striker found himself in space after a good cross from Ben Diamond and thumped his header past Sillitoe to put the hosts ahead.

Leighton tried to get back in the game firstly through Ross Hanley whose effort was saved and then Bateman who’s header was saved after he was found well by Matt Hewitt. Town then made 2 subs to change the complexity of the game as Hewitt and Bateman came off for James Towell and Lolu Onabolu.

And it was Onabolu who had a impact making a good run on the far wing resulting in a low strike being saved by the Chenecks keeper.

However it was the hosts who should have scored a second as Chenecks chipped Sillitoe but the effort hit the crossbar.

Leighton brought on Aaron McKee with one last throw of the dice and tried to push for an equaliser with a series of corners but other than Towell’s header could not create anything and Northampton ON Chenecks go into the next round of the Vase.

Leighton have 2 away games in the coming weeks first travelling to St Margaretsbury next Saturday before travelling to Edgware Town on the 8th of October.

Report by

James D'Arcy