Leighton’s sequence of poor home results continued at Bell Close on Saturday when they were beaten by one of this year’s favourites for promotion. Slough took all three points thanks to a wonderful strike by midfielder Paul Coyne early in the second half but Town can consider themselves hard done by as they had more attacks and Warrington in the visitor’s goal was by far the busier of the two keepers particularly in the second half.
The closest either side came to goal in the early stages was when Perkins drove a 35 yard effort at the Town goal but to be fair it was never going to trouble Kevin Marsh and went a couple of feet over the bar. Slough looked dangerous in the 30th minute when they broke quickly but Shane Bush raced back to make a wonderful tackle to take the ball off Danny Sonner before he could get a shot away.
Jake Bewley then went on a wonderful run for Leighton and he carried the ball past three opponents before he was eventually stopped. In the 35th minute Town conceded a free kick which earned Dan Chambers an unlucky booking. When the ball was driven in and Sweeney got a good touch with his head and the ball crashed against the crossbar before Town hacked the ball away from danger. Town looked threatening in the 40th minute when Lewis McBride cut in from the left but the keeper just got to his low cross before Dan Chambers.
Town went behind in the 53rd minute following a dubious free kick on their left flank. When the initial kick was half cleared the ball fell to Paul Coyne and volleyed it superbly into the net with Kevin Marsh unsighted behind a mass of players.
Leighton had a great chance to draw level in the 57th minute following a long throw by James Hatch. Shane Bush was held as he raced towards the ball and the referee had no hesitation in awarding Leighton the spot kick. Ben Gallant who is usually so deadly from the spot struck the ball to the keepers left but Warrington dived the right way and made a good save to keep his side in front.
In the 69th minute Warrington again foiled Ben Gallant at the expense of a corner. From the second corner the keeper again made a good save to turn Jake Bewley’s fierce shot round the post for another corner. From this place kick Slough conceded another corner kick which was headed wide by Lewis McBride under pressure beyond the far post. In the 76th minute slough were awarded a free kick just outside the Town penalty area but Sam Chapman did well to block the kick Tow minutes after this Ross Hanley’s shot was fumbled by the keeper but he made up for his error by diving on the loose ball as Town players closed in.
Despite their best efforts Town could not score the goal that would have been a fair reward for all their efforts during the game and Slough keep up their challenge for promotion to the Premier Division. Town need to put together a good run as soon as possible to climb out of the danger zone and they showed again yesterday that they can match the sides at the top of the table but they need to improve their home form and start scoring if this season is not to be a long slog against relegation.
Town now face a tough fixture against Cambridge City in the League Cup on Tuesday at Bell Close. The visitors are top of the Southern League Premier Division and will fully test Leighton’s spirit and ability. Town then travel to Northwood next Saturday for a League game.