Leighton travelled to Arlesey on Tuesday night to start their away campaign and returned with all 3
points thanks to two well taken second half goals from Nathan Olukanmi and Samson Alalade.
The game started at a high tempo with both sides keen to get on the front foot with Town passing
the ball around well but neither side created much until the 10th minute when Town skipper Ben
Gallant from a good position could not get any power into his headed effort and Thompson in the
Arlesey goal made a n easy save. A few minutes later Leighton nearly opened the scoring when
Alalade rounded the keeper out on the touchline before sending in a deep cross which Criag Maisiri
drove against the keepers right hand post. Arlesey replied with a quick attack but the final shot
went way off target. In Leighton’s next attack they won a free kick centrally just outside the box but
Craig Maisiri’s effort lacked both direction and power and was easily saved.
Arlesey then pushed forward and a well struck low drive by full back Luke Abraham went narrowly
past the post. After 32 minutes Leighton won free kick on the left and when the ball was curled into
the box Jordan Jenkins volleyed effort from beyond the far post was just off target. A few minutes
after this former Leighton player Aaron Morgan shot well wide from just outside the penalty area
after creating an opportunity for himself. Leighton replied and a flowing move looked promising
until it broke down when an Arlesey defender intercepted the ball inside the penalty area.
The hosts started the second half in a positive fashion and following a quick break Fyife’s well struck
shot required a fine save by Aaron Bufton in the Town goal. From the resulting corner the Town
keeper was forced to make superb save to keep the scores levels when he dived to his left to turn a
fierce shot from Osamu Alman round the post. Town then returned to the attack and a ross field
pass saw the ball fall to Olukanmi but his shot from a difficult angle hit the outside of the post.
Leighton eventually took the lead in the 60thminute when a cross fell to Olukanmi just outside the
box and his low shot found the corner of the net despite the best efforts of Thompson. In the 64th
minute a Leighton break saw them make 80 yards but after looking a real threat some poor control
ended the move. Town nearly added another in the 78th minute following a corner, Alalade rose
high to head towards goal but Olukanmi’s effort from close range lacked the power to trouble the
keeper.
In the 80th minute Town scored their second when Alalade challenged the keeper for a loose ball near
the goal line and when the ball broke free he placed his low left footed shot into the far side of the
net from a tight angle. Town easily saw out the last ten minutes and they can be well pleased with
their performance on the night.
TEAM:
1- Bufton, 2-Jenkins, 3- P. Brown,4- Hazet,5- Hall,6-Westlake,7- Olukanmi,8-Gallant,9- Alalade,
10-Smith,11- Maisiri. SUBS: 12-D. Brown (Westlake 59), 14-Seminerio for Maisiri 88,
15-Birch for Smith 59, unused - 16-Copson, 17- Harrison
Att: