Injury Time Goal Knocks Town Out Of Cup

After a 4-0 win over Oxhey Jets in the last round of the FA Cup Hellenic side Tuffley Rovers were up next for Leighton Town playing at Bell Close competitively for the first time this season in the new stand.

The Gloucestershire side started well and hit the bar early with a well-worked corner from Liam Wright and it was a nervy start for both sides. Leighton countered and had a good opportunity to score first when ‘keeper Dave Evans came off his line but couldn’t take control of the chance.

Leighton did then take the lead early through a superb finish through skipper Dom Marsala. Leighton had a free kick just on the edge of the box and Marsala forced a good save from Evans who couldn’t catch it and then on the rebound Marsala hit it on the volley first time and Evans couldn’t get near it as it flew in.

It was a proper end to end FA Cup fixture and Tuffley came back at Leighton Josh Bennae forced the first save out of new town ‘keeper Tom Wyant. Mark Pritchett was the next after a goalmouth scramble in the Leighton box but Wyant again was there to avert the danger.

Leighton were under pressure but were dealing with the pressure well as Brett James’ effort was cleared. Town then started to attack at the other end a neat run from midfielder resulting in a neat shot just past the bottom corner.

This kick started some better football from the reds who then proceeded to get a second goal. The Tuffley defence switched off as O’Brien found Lorrell Smith and Smith doing what all good strikers should was in the right place to tap home.

Town were taking the chances they had with aplomb and after this second goal tried a couple of audacious efforts with Towell and O’Brien both trying speculative efforts that didn’t trouble Evans.

The second half started and Leighton were let off the hook by poor Tuffley shooting. Warren Mann drove goalwards, Wyant came out Mann then crossed it and with an empty net to aim at and space the Tuffley striker inexplicably blasted it over.

Leighton had chances to get another goal themselves, great hold up play from James Hatch to cross it for Smith who couldn’t quite reach it. Smith and Hatch linked up well again soon after but Evans made himself big to smother Smiths effort.

Dom Marsala was very unlucky not to make it 3 with another peach of an effort. Marsala made a cutting run and curled a shot past Evans but just past the post as well as many thought it had gone in.

Tuffley then thought they had scored as Jamie Goodwin hit a lovely effort on the underside of the bar but it was deemed not to have gone over the line and it was not given.

Leighton were defending against Tuffley well enough but things changed when Rovers were awarded a penalty Leighton thought was unfairly given. Mann stepped up to take it and it was an emphatic finish into the top corner with Wyant having little chance of saving it.

Leighton were still creating though with a Condon free kick being saved by Evans. Things changed when Tuffley equalised soon after. Like with Leighton’s second goal the defence switched off this time it was the hosts rather than the visitors. Credit to the visitors it was a cutting cross and an unmarked Pritchett hit it first time on the volley past Wyant.

Faced with a trip to Gloucestershire on Tuesday night things went from bad to worse for Town as the visitors hit a third soon after. Tuffley continued to attack and an unmarked Sam Hill was there to sweep it home into the bottom corner and pull off an unlikely comeback and head on to the next round.

This result will be hard to take but lessons will be learned for Leighton after this result. The magic of the FA Cup is still alive and kicking despite what some may say and this game emphasised that although from a Leighton perspective it is disappointing. Town now have 3 games in quick succession to get back on the horse. This Tuesday town return to league action against London Colney away before returning to Bell Close next Saturday at home to Hoddesdon. Next Tuesday Town then return to the Broadwater playing at Berkhamstead in the cup.

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

Match Report by

James D'Arcy