Another defeat leaves Leighton on the edge

With Leightons' Shane Bush and Bilal Hassan injured after Saturdays game it was up to Craig Wells to pull in some old faces once again to make sure a full squad was available.

Aylesbury kicked off the first half and within minutes were awarded a free kick but it was cleared away well by Aiden Denton and Enzo Silvestri. Dennis Fenemore managed to lay the ball off brilliantly to Kieran Doughty only 5 minutes in and had a chance at scoring but was flagged offside.

Another chance for Leighton came when Jake Bewley, Fenemore and Doughty played some spectacular football, weaving their way through Aylesburys' defence, Bewley put the ball across and it was nearly an own goal.

James Weatherill, Aylesburys' keeper, launched the ball the length of the pitch to find Jamie Rudd who turned with the ball, to see that Matt Griggs was off his line and took a shot at goal, but thankfully the score remained 0-0.

Once again like in previous games Grant Fryer was on top form with his defending, heading the ball clear without any problems. Aylesbury played some good football 15 minutes in without much interference from Leighton, who seemed to be letting them get away with it.

Silvestri won himself a free kick when Steve Perkins took him down in the 23rd minute. Sean Bishop stepped up to kick the ball but it was a wasted chance as he kicked it straight at the clubhouse.

Leighton continued to make chances for themselves and when Fenemore found Bewley it looked like this could be the luck they needed but there was no one in the box to slot the ball home. It was Dom Marsalas' turn next and with no one to help him he took a shot at goal himself but unfortunately it was off target.

31 minutes in and Doughty was taken down in the box and shouts for a penalty were heard, however the referee dismissed the idea and allowed play to continue.

Bishop made a great run, crossing the ball hoping to find Silvestri, who was ready to put the ball in the net, however Aylesburys' defence were one step ahead and cleared the ball without trouble. Kristian Stephens passing wasn't up too much, he seemed to be only finding the oppositions feet, however he improved during the second half.

Leighton burst into life shortly before the end of the first half, Bewley ran half the length of the pitch to receive the ball from Doughty and they managed to win themselves a corner. Fryer and Stuart Deaton both managed to get their heads on the ball but the keeper caught it well.

Aylesbury won themselves a corner right before the half time whistle and it looked like history would repeat itself, but thankfully Silvestri cleared the ball with ease.

The second half saw Griggs make a save at full stretch when the ball was fired at him by Brian Haule and miss kick shortly after by Weatherill which luckily fell to his own man, saw Aylesburys' Kevin Mealor curl the ball round Fryer and into the net, making the score 1-0.

Leighton could have made the score even in the 58th minute when Fenemore passed to Bishop, who decided to take a shot but the ball spun off his boot and went flying over the bar. Leighton made two substitutions bringing off Fenemore and Marsala to make way for Craig Masiri and Jack Downes to hopefully boast morale.

Silvestri gave away a free kick 9 minutes before time but thankfully Bradley Wadkins could only find the roof of the clubhouse rather than the back of the net. The tables turned quickly with Leighton having a chance from a free kick, which Masiri stepped up to take however it was a pass back straight to the keeper.

The pass back initiated Aylesburys' second goal in the 84th minute, with Gareth Price shooting the ball low into the right hand corner of the net before Griggs could stop it. Injury time saw Leighton win a penalty and Denton stepped up to the spot, he's shot was powerful and low but Weatherill saved it and when Dentons' feet caught the rebound he could only sky the ball over the bar.

Leightons next game is at home against Daventry Town FC on Saturday 12th April, kick off 3:07pm.

By Hannah Sellman

Team lineup- Griggs, Stephens, Bewley, Fryer, Deaton, Bishop, Doughty, Silvestri, Fenemore, Marsala, Denton

Subs- Marsh, Downes, Maisiri, Bather, Lyons

Attendance- 91