The hosts started the scoring just three minutes in. A long ball forward was flicked on by Leon Lobjoit to Archie McClelland. With the goalkeeper in no man’s land, McClelland provided a sublime lob. On 20 minutes, McClelland would grab his, and Leighton’s, second goal. Latching on to a defensive mishap, the inform striker cut back on his right to drive low and hard – perhaps benefitting from a deflection or two along the way. It was his ninth goal in as many games.
Before the break, Ardley had two efforts disallowed for offside. The first was better than the last as Anaclet Odhiambo fired in an overhead kick, alas to no avail. Odhiambo did get his goal shortly after to make it 2-1 on 36 minutes - leaving it all to play for in the second half.
Leighton began the second half well. Oran Jackson forced a fine save from the travelling keeper on 50’ before in the next run of play, a Town goal was disallowed. Leon Lobjoit converted, but Reece Robins was adjudged to have fouled the keeper as the ball dropped.
As with Ardley’s disallowed goal, Town also bounced back quick with Lobjoit scoring five minutes later. From a long ball over the top, he chipped the floored keeper in signature, deadly fashion to make it 3-1.
Ardley weren’t deterred and added to a trifecta of disallowed goals. Admittedly, Town didn’t handle the pressure and on 76’ the dangerous Odhiambo scored again before a late flurry of attacks had Leighton heads spinning. A stray foot gave Ardley a free kick. Jordy Ngathe blasted it through a weary wall to end the game 3-3.

For a now third placed Leighton Town, the new year gets underway at Risborough Rangers on the second of January.

LTFC XI: Shaw; Towell, Connolly, Farrelly, Beck, Pyman, Robins, Spaul (C), McClelland, Lobjoit, Summerfield.
Subs: Cooper, Toomey, Jackson, Fulton, Marsh-Brown.

Report by Max Bradfield