Another 3Points For First Team

It was a rapid start from both sides and the visitors went very close after breaking through the Leighton back line as Tom Wyant came off his line but the linesman already had his flag up as Colney struck.

The hosts were just as rapid taking just 8 minutes to get the opener, Matt Hall making a fantastic cross from deep in the London Colney half and Dom Marsala rose magnificently to head home from a well worked Leighton move.

Hall tried the same again moments later after the restart but the defence were more alert to it this time. Leighton were perhaps unlucky not to go 2-0 up after Lorrel Smith made a cutting run and pulled it back to Carl Tappin in space his first time shot blasted over the bar.

Instead it was the visitors who equalised just 3 minutes later James Hatch trying his best to battle with the London Colney winger his acute finish coming off the post and in with a neat finish that caught Wyant off-guard.

Leighton were still having the better of the chances and London Colney’s keeper Jack Metcalf had to be very alert to tip Lewis McBride’s ranged piledriver over the bar. Alex Condon managed to get his diving header away from the resulting corner but went wide of the mark.

The London Colney defence couldn’t handle Smith on the wing and he bore down on goal rounding Metcalf but as he squared it back there were no Leighton players to tap into an empty net and it was a wasted chance as the visitors cleared their lines.

Town deservedly got their second goal in the 30th minute Tappin playing a neat ball into Marsala’s feet he pulled it back into the box and Smith was there to run in and head home in a crowded box.

The hosts were baying for blood and this time it was Hall turning from provider to creator skinning the Colney defence before shooting from range, it was a good save from Metcalf but again no one in a Red shirt was there to shoot into an empty net.

Again it was the visitors who found a way back into the game on the 37th minute from a corner Zach Holding rising to get a shot away although there were claims a Leighton player might have got the decisive shot to put it past Wyant.

There was one last bit of action before half time as referee Rob Pearson had to break up a scuffle between both sets of players, Condon and Joe Longworth both receiving a booking for the trouble.

Alex Condon caused more trouble for London Colney just 3 minutes into the second half meeting McBride’s corner to powerfully head home.

There was a second scuffle as Longworth went for a ball to net past Wyant but instead caught Wyant in the chest. Wyant was down injured as a scuffle broke out behind him, Longworth was sent off for 2 yellows but perhaps some of the players who started shoving and pushing behind the incident should have been cautioned as well.

Leighton were still pushing for another goal McBride making a lovely counter attacking run his shot was saved. It was McBride who pushing for another Town goal making another lovely run passing it to Alex O’Brien and his shot was blocked.

London Colney did have the ball in the net again before full time as Ronnie Smurthwaite headed in but the referee had blown his whistle long before and it was in vein.

Despite troubles off the ball from both sides it was another attacking display of intent from Town who could and probably should have added to their tally. It shows just how much the side has progressed from last year that the only thing worth complaining about is that the side should’ve grabbed more goals against last season’s champions.

This result takes the tally up to 6 wins on the bounce for the boys and up to 5th in the table. Next up for the Reds: 2 successive fixtures at Bell Close as Wembley travel this coming Saturday before London Lions visit in the Vase in a fortnight.

TEAM: Wyant, Condon, Hall, Marsh, Guiney, Hatch, Marsala ©, Tappin, Smith, O’Brien, McBride

Report by

James D’Arcy