After an even 90 minutes in the FA Vase First Round Proper on Saturday, Leighton Town eventually prevailed on penalties against Shefford and Campton. Full time had initially seen a goal from Leon Lobjoit cancelled out by Ashley Ingham before Xavi Comas starred in the shootout for the visitors.
Leighton opened the scoring at Shefford Sports Club in excellent fashion. As he had done before nearly two weeks prior against Crawley Green, Leon Lobjoit executed a superb chip. On 18’, he caught the goalkeeper out from 30 yards.
Despite this great opener, Shefford got right back in the game. A ball across the box from Sam King was missed by both Oran Jackson and Xavi Comas. It trickled through to Ashley Ingham who converted at the back post on 26 minutes.
After half time and a number of Leighton changes, a continued even battle broke out into a late flurry of action. First on 78’, Ben Spaul struck a flying volley that the hosts blocked well. Just two minutes later, the ball was in the net but the celebrations were cut short with Lobjoit’s header ruled out for offside.
At the conclusion of six minutes added time, penalties were next. Shefford kicked off the shootout, but Xavi Comas was equal to it, pulling out a fine stop. Kyle Connolly scored before Comas denied yet another one. It was a brilliant performance from the keeper. A bump in the road was Matt Cooper’s failed kick and Shefford’s conversion, yet Kieran Turner tucked his away to set up a tense finale. Comas was the man of the moment and saved his third penalty of the shootout brilliantly before new man Max Farrelly sealed the win to put Leighton back into the draw.

LTFC XI: Comas; Jackson, Connolly, Connolly (C), Farrelly, Pyman, Harvey, Spaul, Toomey, Lobjoit, Towell.
Subs: McClelland, Marsh, Cooper, Turner, Marsh-Brown, Goodman, Fitzgerald.

Report by Max Bradfield