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Sat 22 Feb 2014  ·  Division One Central
Rugby Town
4
0
Leighton Town F C
First Team
Leighton take a beating at Rugby

Leighton take a beating at Rugby

Hannah Sellman23 Feb 2014 - 22:18
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https://www.leightontownfc.co.

Rugby Town FC 4-0 Leighton Town FC

Leightons numbers were dwindling yet again with Ryan Plowright signing for Dunstable Town during the week, Shane Bush out injured and Kristian Stephens back with the army after leave. Sam Chapman also pulled up injured during the warm up leaving Leighton with only two men on the bench.

Leighton kicked off but it was Rugby who found themselves with the ball when David Kolodynski saw an open goal in front of him but some how managed to kick the ball straight over the bar missing a vital opportunity to earn an early lead.

It was clear that Leighton were missing the head of Shane Bush with no one winning the balls in the air. If Leighton hadn't got enough injuries already Enzo Silvestri pulled up with a painful groin and Ben Gallant started to struggle after straining his hamstring.

Dom Marsala and Gallant showed good team work when they managed to win themselves a corner in the 9th minute but unfortunately the ball ended up in Niall Coppers' arms. Offside seemed to be Gareth Chendliks' favourite position with every run he made the flag was being raised.

24 minutes saw Rugby come close when Justin Marsoem sent the ball skimming towards the goal however Matt Griggs had it covered before Ellis Myles had the chance to score. There was a penalty scare when Griggs went for the ball taking Myles down but the official had already flagged for offside, dismissing the penalty appeal.

However only 3 minutes later Grant Fryer did foul Rugby in the box and they were awarded a penalty, Seb Lake-Gaskin stepped up to the spot and the scoreline became 1-0.

The second half saw Leighton make their first substitution with an injured Silvestri being replaced with George Quinn. Rugby continued to sky the ball over the net but when the ball fell to ex-Leighton player Lewis McBride in the 50th minute he took time to compose himself and found the back of the net making the score 2-0.

The 61st minute saw Rugbys' 3rd goal when Griggs made a brilliant save only for him to turn his back once the ball had fallen to Kolodynski who slotted it home. Only minutes later Lake-Gaskin scored the 4th and final goal for Rugby.

Rugby nearly made it 5-0 when Myles popped the ball into the net, thankfully for Leighton he was offside. Leighton were being run ragged but Sean Bishop, Fryer and Warren Plowright stood their ground and without them and Griggs the score line would have definitely been higher.

Even though Leighton were not going to pull back four goals it didn't stop them from trying, Jake Bewley made a skilful run down the centre of the pitch finding Chendlik who just didn't have the strength to do anything with the ball.

Gallant once again proved his skills by managing to pass four of the opposition only for him to give the ball to Jack Downes who immediately lost it. Plowright took a long shot at scoring in the 78th minute when he powered the ball towards the net from the half way line only for it to be right off target.

Miscommunication was Leightons downfall in this game, with all of them not knowing who was going for the ball and this was seen when Quinn and Craig Maisiri both stopped short of the ball letting Rugby walk straight through the middle of them.

85 minutes in and Bishop made a fantastic cross into the box but Chendlik couldn't get his head on the ball, despite being one of Leightons' taller players. The last few minutes saw even more injuries for Leighton with Plowright landing awkwardly on his ankle and having to be substituted to make way for Jamie Bather.

Leightons next game is at home on Tuesday 25th February against Aylesbury Town FC- kick off 7:45pm.

By Hannah Sellman

Team lineup- Griggs, Downes, Bewley, Fryer, Plowright, Bishop, Marsala, Silvestri, Gallant, Chendlik, Maisiri

Subs- Quinn, Bather

Attendance- 275

Match details

Match date

Sat 22 Feb 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

14:00

Attendance

275

Competition

Division One Central
Team overview
Further reading