First Team Continue Unbeaten Run

The hosts had to reshuffle their starting XI following injuries to the side that beat London Colney last weekend with Lorrel Smith and Lewis McBride both set to miss a few games. Kai Ashley returned to the starting line-up alongside debutant Tom Silford signed from AFC Dunstable this week.

Leighton started brightly pressing Wembley high up the pitch and had a couple of half chances; James Hatch nearly latching on to Alex O’Brien’s pass to go in on goal. Debutant Tom Silford also played a lovely cross in after getting the better of Gustava Mota but it was cleared well for a Town corner.

You’d be forgiven for thinking Wembley would be setback early on after losing Ethan Tyler to injury but if anything it spurred them on. His replacement Danielson Vicente won a penalty in the 15th minute after he was fouled in the box. Zaied Sabti stepped up and thumped it into the bottom right corner with Wyant having little chance to get near.

Wembley perhaps could have added another were it not for Wyant after Vicente squared it to Adrian Dinham, Wyant did ever so well to dive in and win the ball injuring himself in the process.

The visitors were having the better of the chances as a Wayne Walters header was cleared. However, the tide began to turn in Leighton’s favour as the half progressed countering after that chance from Walters, Dom Marsala played in Silford who did a lovely little feint to leave it for O’Brien but the referee blew his whistle as he tried to play Marsala again.

Leighton then won a penalty of their own in the 38th minute as Alex Condon played a lovely cross into Hatch who was fouled in the air by Wembley ‘Keeper Grigoli Zulmatashvilli. Marsala stepped up to take it and blasted it down the middle to equalise, simple yet effective.

The Reds were unlucky not to go ahead just before the break after Zulmatashvilli made a lovely diving save from a powerful Hatch header that looked certain to nestle in the top corner.

As the second half got underway the game looked to be heading back in Wembley’s favour as the visitors broke and Vicente controlled the ball well to shape to shoot just wide.

Kai Ashley had to be alert to put his body on the line and make some superb blocks to deny the visitors and clear off the line.

While Leighton’s chances were not as clear cut as the first half, Silford made another cutting run into the Wembley backline, but the finish didn’t match the run and was well wide.

Dinham again went close for Wembley striking narrowly wide of the post as Town switched off, but the hosts had held off the pressure and started applying some of their own. Both Silford and Marsala both had potential chances to score but again Zulmatashvilli saved well.

Town then got their second penalty of the game as Silford was fouled in the box resulting in a booking for Wembley defender Toby Webb. Marsala stepped up again and bamboozled Zulmatashvilli by striking his effort true into the bottom left corner this time round to give Town the lead.

Wembley were sent down to 10 men after Webb made another foul this time on O’Brien and this meant Leighton had enough in the tank to professionally see out the rest of the game in relative comfort to pick up the 3 points.

The football may not have been attractive for either side but yet again the boys dug in deep to get the win and there is a real resilience around the squad at the moment. Wembley are one of the better sides in this division so to pick up 3 points with a team not at its strongest is vitally important to keep up Leighton’s hopes to challenge at the top. Town remain in 5th after this win but have started to make a gap above the teams below them.

Next up for Town is the visit of London Lions next Saturday in the FA Vase 2nd round before visiting Unite MK in the Bucks Charity Cup next Tuesday. Town return to league action on the 18th of November where they’ll visit Harpenden.

TEAM: Wyant, Condon, Ashley, Marsh, Guiney, Hall, Marsala, Tappin, Hatch, O’Brien, Silford

Match Report by

James D’Arcy