Leighton Buzzard 1s vs Newbury & Thatcham 2s

Leighton Buzzard travelled to league leaders Newbury & Thatcham knowing a win here would put them top of the league.

Leighton were pumped up from the start as were their hosts Newbury, with both teams pressing forward testing their opposing defences. The home side were the first to creat a real chance, but this was expertly dealt with by Leighton's goal keeper Alex White. Some tiresome work by the Buzzards engine room of Mark Stephenson and Chris Marshall opened up chances for the Leighton forwards, however they couldn't quite threaten the goal. With both teams defences holding firm, a slip up by the Newbury centre back allowed Tristan Hardy to steal the ball and slot it calmly past the keeper to give Leighton the lead heading into half time.

The second half started much like the first ended with Leighton pressuring Newbury into a mistake and winning a short corner, which was expertly drag flicked into the bottom corner by Nick Marshall. Newbury stepped up the pressure on Leighton but Leighton's defence rose to the challenge. With the clock ticking down the home side pushed hard and were reward with a short corner which rattled the back board to put Newbury on the score sheet and back in the game. Leighton now looked to run the clock down and keep hold of the ball. Mortgage Advice Bureau Man of the match David Fry and left back Matt Franklin held firm and were able to get the ball high to the Leighton Forwards. Unfortunately for Leighton a lapse in defence allowed Newbury into their D with Newbury's forward squeezing the ball on the reverse past White and levelling the game.
As Leighton looked to mount an attack from the restart they were stopped short by the final whistle.
A dramatic end to a tense game sees the table stay as it is and Leighton extended their unbeaten run to 8 games.

Leighton look to get back to their winning ways next week when they host Marlow at Vandyke.

Final score LBHC 1s 2, Newbury & Thatcham 2s 2

Written by Nick Marshall