Leighton Fall Short to Tring

A heavy defeat sees Leighton drop down the table.

With the short distance travelled to RAF Holton, Leighton were looking to build on their dominating performance over Aylesbury the previous week. The game started at a slow pace with neither side realistically looking to spark things off. As the half drew on Tring began to create and exploit the middle of the park and it wasn't long before they took the lead. A pin point pass, which would become Tring's trademark this half, found a free man running into the empty space in the middle of the pitch. From here he was able to get his shot off and beat Leighton keeper, Dan Metcalfe, and give the homeside the lead. With their game plan in motion Tring began to execute it regularly; creating a number of chances and were soon four goals up. Leighton came close to clawing one back when a fantastic piece of link up play between Leighton's attacking trio of Tommi Lakins, Jack Gorton and Josh Gale nearly enabled Gale to get on the scoresheet. As the half came to a close Leighton got their opening goal. A crash ball from Nick Marshall was deflected goalwards by stand in forward Will Jenkinson, forcing the Tring keeper to make a save. Picking the ball up mid air, Gorton gained control of it and beat the helpless keeper at his near post.
With a change in formation Leighton were ready to extinguish Tring's tactics and create some more chances of their own. Strong build up and dynamic play awarded Gale with a goal. Coming deep to get the ball, he played it off to Lakins, continuing his run to the D, Gale received the ball back from Lakins and with the calmest of finishes; sold the keeper one direction and laced the ball into the opposite corner. Back in the game Leighton began to look more deadly and their back line were now nullify Trings strategy, filling and winning the ball in the middle. Tireless running, both attackingly and defensively, by Buzzard's Player of the Match Dave Fry, helped to keep the hosts at bay and create chances for the visitors. A questionable short corner gave Tring their fifth goal with a perfectly placed shot into the bottom left of the goal. As the game was coming to its end Leighton continued to push, but it was too little too late for the travelling Buzzards.
Leighton's run of results against their local opponents has been a mixed bag and they will be looking to get back winning ways when they entertain West Hampstead back at Vandyke next Saturday.