Leighton Buzzard Mens 1st v Bicester Mens 1st

Leighton’s last friendly, before the season start next week, saw the Buzzards to travel to Bicester.

Leighton had decided to soak up some of the pressure that undoubtedly Bicester would place on the visitors, this however backfired when an aerial pass, over the top of a compressed Leighton midfield and defence, gave Bicester their first chance within the first minute of the game which was smashed into the back post of the Leighton goal. At the restart Leighton tried to gain some composure but were put on the back foot through some sloppy marking allowing Bicester to score a second past the out stretched Leighton Keeper Jim Galloway. Some more accurate and defence splitting passes saw Bicester add to more to their tally. With the Leighton forwards and midfield closely marked Jack Gorton did well to find Leighton’s attacking player but little chance were made from this. Before the half time whistle Leighton once again conceded, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the second half.

At the start of the second half Leighton played some smart hockey and were able to keep the ball away from the home team for long periods of time. Some strong defended from Leighton’s backline of Gorton, Dan Edwards and Tim Bellamy kept the Bicester forwards from adding to the totals for the day and some tireless running from Tommy Lakins allowed Leighton to have their first real chances of the game. Nick Marshall came closest, hitting the cross bar from a drag flick at a short corner which fell to Lakins who was unable to convert the chance. A Quick break from Mark Stephenson found an unmarked Player of the Match Tristan Hardy, who as able to draw the keeper off his line and take the ball wide and expertly hit the ball into the far side of the goal. Another Leighton attack resulted in a goal mouth scramble, and Hardy cleaning up at the back post to give Leighton their second goal. Before the end of the half Bicester once again threatened the Leighton goal but an expert save by Galloway prevented the home team from finishing the game the way they started.

Final result LBHC 1s 2 - Bicester 1s 5