Leighton Buzzard 1s vs Sonning 3s

Leighton hosted the already relegated Sonning, in the last game of the 2015/16 season. A win here and an unlikely loss for second place Newbury would see the yellows gaining promotion.

With the Buzzards safe in third place, coach Kenneth Mounter chose to play some of the up and coming junior talent in the club and they did not disappoint. From the off Leighton pressed the away side hard and it wasn't long before Mortgage Advice Bureau Man of the Match Joe Giltrow got on the score sheet with his first goal for the first team in his second appearance. Soon after, first team debutant Josh Farnfield, doubled Leighton's lead by slotting the ball past the Sonning keeper. With the wind in their sails Leighton kept the pressure on the away side. Leighton's next goal came from Tommi Lakins picking up a stray pass from the Sonning centre back and smashing it home for Leighton's third of the day and his 17th of the season.

A relaxed Leighton side started the second half with confidence, moving the ball around the back between Gordon Browne, Dan Edwards and Matt Franklin creating space for Tristan Hardy and Dave Fry to attack into. This created a number of chances and Leighton's fourth of the day, when Sam Gale finished a well executed attack from the right hand side. At this point no one would have blamed Sonning for rolling over and allowing the yellows to bulldoze over them, but they found their fighting spirit and came close with a series of short corners each of them being kept out by another player making his debut, Alex Dashwood, taking the place of Leighton's usual man between the sticks Alex White. Leighton could have easily have found more goals but couldn't convert all their chances until a mazy run by skipper Jack Gorton, saw him take on two Sonning defenders and smash the ball into the far corner of the goal for his first of the season. Leighton finished off the game by subbing off Dashwood and playing with 11 out on pitch. This resulted in Leighton scoring their final goal of the day from Alex White, making a rare appearance out on pitch.

A six goal win unfortunately was not enough to see the Buzzards promoted, however this has been a huge turn around for a team who last season were fighting off relegation.

Written by Nick Marshall