Leighton Town 4 - Barton Rovers 3

MATCH REPORT

Leighton Town 4-3 Barton Rovers

Town win their first game since Beaconsfield SYCOB after being 3-1 down against local rivals Barton Rovers.

Against a team also struggling at the wrong end of the table Leighton must’ve thought they could get a result against Barton and the hosts started positively as they had the first chance to go in front from kick off as Barton ‘keeper Kyle Forster took too much time on the ball and lost possession to skipper Ben Gallant who squared it to James Hatch but his shot was tame and Forster gathered comfortably in the end. In these very early stages Barton also had a good chance to go ahead with a free kick that was floated into skipper Paul Andrews who had a free-header but his effort was just wide.

But in the third minute Town went 1-0 up as Gallant scored through poor Barton defending. The move started through positive play from the Left wing as the ball was played into the area but a Barton defender slipped letting Leighton get their shot away which Gallant headed into the right corner to make sure it went in.

Leighton were the better team at the moment as Gallant was involved again trying to set up Alex Woodfine after he shimmied past Barton midfielders and floated a ball over but it was cleared by Barton. Gallant and Woodfine were involved again as they pressured Forster who cleared out for a throw-in to Town. The resulting throw met James Hatch; his toe poke was an inch wide but was deflected out for a corner that was then headed off the line.

Barton started to grow into the game after this, following a rare attack into the Leighton box. Andrew Fagan cleared it out as far as Lucas Perry who crossed it in but the shot was deflected wide.

Barton then equalised in the 24th minute through Kev Kilroy. Barton had a free-kick on the right side 20 yards out and Joe Reynolds whipped a perfect ball to Kilroy who had a free header and he planted it in the net but credit has to go Kilroy who has looked good from the dead ball situation all game.

The game had swung in Barton’s favour now but both sides were making a lot of fouls meaning it had turned into a scrappy affair.

The visitors went 2-1 up on the 40th minute through former Town player Alex O’Brien who scored a spectacular goal from 25 yards out. O’Brien was in a lot of space but he struck a thunderbolt into the bottom left corner Brad Kirkwood got a hand to it but it was a fantastic goal. Woodfine tried to replicate O’Brien after the restart but Forster claimed it and Barton were just about the better side by half time.

The second half began and Barton went 3-1 up in the 49th minute through skipper Andrews following a Barton corner. Keating swung the ball in and Andrews rose to head home.

You would be forgiven for thinking Leighton were dead and buried but not a moment later had Leighton had reduced there arrears to just one goal. Straight from the kick off the ball found its way to Hatch who challenged and out muscled Forster before striking into the top right corner to make it 3-2.

The game was wide open and Leighton were now the better side in a very entertaining game at Bell close and they got a deserved equaliser just 2 minutes later through Jordan Jenkins following a lovely free kick, the ball was floated into the area and the first shot hit the keeper but Jenkins was there to poke it in following more bad defending as the defenders simply didn’t react.

The crowd were in full voice now and the players responded with Woodfine going narrowly wide again with a creative volley on the edge of the D. Barton were by no means out of this game as O’Brien nearly went through on goal but Kirkwood claimed.

Both sides were trying to get a winner, Hatch nearly scored a second through sub Josh Murray who played him in 1 on 1 with the keeper but his shot was just wide. Barton looked dangerous through set pieces and a short corner led to a shot that was just wide.

Despite this Leighton took the lead in the 77th minute a cross was swung into the area and although Forster touched the initial shot Gallant was there to get his second of the game and Leighton’s fourth and it was a remarkable comeback considering they were 3-1 down just 20 minutes ago and it was even more remarkable considering they were 3-1 up at Petersfield last week and went on to lose 4-3.

Barton had a golden chance to equalise through a penalty. Jason Blackett had gone down in the box as Barton had a free kick and after a lot of discussion between the referee, the linesman and both sets of players, the linesman gave the penalty. Kilroy stepped up to take it and hit the bar and Leighton cleared it out.

That was Barton’s last real chance and Leighton picked up a deserved three points in a manic game at Bell Close and Town showed great desire to get back into the game after looking dead and buried at 3-1. It was a great team performance in the second half to get back into the game and it would be unfair to single out players in a good all round performance in the second half.

It’s another big game for Leighton next weekend away at Aylesbury United who are one place above Leighton who wrap up 2015 in style with this victory over Barton.

Report by James D'Arcy