Leighton Town 1 - Bedford Town 1

A buoyant Bedford crowd turned up to Bell Close today, but it was the hosts who will feel happier with the point.

The Eagles started the first half well after Serigne Mor Diop got past Sam Wyer in the Leighton goal but he couldn’t find the target from a tight angle. Bedford started the first half the better of the two sides and had another chance through Mor Diop, he and Matt Clifford both went for the same ball and neither player struck it with any pace meaning Wyer could claim easily.

Like Egham two weeks ago, Bedford were trying to shoot from range firstly through Ben Farrell and then through Clifford but both had the same end result both sailing well wide.

Bedford were doing well to press Leighton and perhaps deservedly took the lead in the 23rd minute through Josh Beech after a throw was flicked on for Beech, who from three yards couldn’t miss as he nodded it past Wyer.

Bedford looked capable from set pieces and after a corner was partially cleared Farrell hit a lovely volley that produced a lovely save from Wyer.

Leighton had been moving the ball around nicely in the first half but hadn’t had a shot until skipper Ben Gallant shot from range and Bedford ‘keeper Enol Ordonez Suarez saved fairly comfortably. Leighton were playing better towards the end of the first half and Lewis McBride played in a good cross, but Suarez was equal to it.

The hosts best chance of the first half though came from an Alex Woodfine free kick that reached James Hatch in the 18 yard box but his shot was wide.

By half time Bedford looked good value for their lead, but when the second half began Leighton looked a lot stronger pushing up into Bedford’s half. However, Leighton’s problem was not pushing up in numbers; Curtis Shaw and Mcbride both played in crosses where no-one was there to get on the end of them.

There was more of a sense of urgency from Leighton in the second half and after a good cross from Ben Gallant, Hatch was inches away from equalizing. This sense of urgency paid off on the 63rd minute after a Gallant free kick eventually reached Hatch who from 15 yards out struck a lovely volley that flew past Suarez.

Leighton looked better after the goal and Woodfine got into a good shooting position but dragged his shot wide.

There was a big stoppage in play when Mor Diop went down with a bad injury on his leg and had to be stretchered off and it was a nice gesture to see both sets of fans applaud him and to see Woodfine help stretcher him off, hopefully Serigne Mor Diop has a speedy recovery.

After play had resumed Leighton were still just about the better side and Hatch again had another good effort but his strike was straight at Suarez.

Part of the reason Bedford were creating less chances in this second half was through the form of Jordan Jenkins, there was a couple of times the visitors would have been through on goal were it not for an interception or a tackle from Jenkins.

Despite this Bedford were still trying to get all three points and after a goal mouth scramble, Leighton just about cleared the ball out. Moments after this Bedford had a free kick that had to be cleared off the line by Leighton and the game was anyone’s to win.

After this clearance Leighton tried to counter themselves and after McBride made a good run he could only hit the side netting.

All in all neither side could get a decisive second goal and the game finished 1-1 and a point was the fair result in the end, Bedford having a few good chances in the first half, likewise Leighton in the second. Leighton now have an important fixture away to Aylesbury United on Wednesday before travelling to face Beaconsfield SYCOB on Saturday.

Report by
James D'Arcy