Newbury and Thatcham 3s v Men's 2s

Leighton travelled to Newbury knowing it wasn't going to be easy against top of the league who have dropped 3 points all season, as well they were missing some key players. Starting 11, with a different formation (4-2-3-1)

Early chances for Newbury tested keeper Jim Galloway but he was up to the task making some incredible stops, Leighton hadn't got going, their rustiness was beginning to show as no training for nearly a month and lacking match sharpness due to games being called off, as Newburys number ten weaved his way into the D and found the bottom corner, not 3 minutes later Newbury had a controversial short corner which managed to take a deflection past Galloway who was left helpless. This seemed to motivate Leighton into pushing on... great work at the back to withstand pressure from Newbury Leighton found their passing range quick play around the back from David Wavish, Will Jenkinson, Dan Wright and Tom O'Reilly who found Tim Bellamy with a quick ball wide to Steven Fuller who's pace as normal was electric pulled one back into the D where Matthew Nash won Leighton's first short of the game, with a different injector to normal things felt different, but Jenkinson injection to Bellamy was slipped back to Jenkinson who slid it under the keeper to make it 2-1. Game on?

Newbury with 15 minutes to go till half time hit Leighton on the counter Wright beaten to easily on the left, pulled back to the top of the D to the Newbury number 10 who decided today was going to be all about him, Had a shot only for it to be plucked out of the bottom corner by Galloway only for it to hit Bailey's stick as he goes to clear it, and deflect it back under Galloway who was helpless at this point... Leighton kept pushing, but weren't at the races in the first half, Newbury scored another 2 before half time... 5-1 at the break

After an inspired team talk and reverting back to the formation they know things looked on the up! Lovely play from Wright on the left (After receiving the ball from Wavish from a 16) managed to switch the play over to Jenkinson with a delightful cross field pass between two Newbury players Jenkinson beat a couple found Fraser Retford who nipped inside into the D found Nash who's shot was somehow saved only for the rebound to land kindly with O'Reilly who finished gracefully 5-2. Leighton spurred on looking for a spirited fight back. Lovely work through the middle from David Hooker won a short corner, this one, leading to another short, this one went to plan, pull out to Wavish. Stop. To Bellamy. BANG. Cracking strike low into the corner. 5-3, chances came and went to the front 4, but nothing was getting past the Newbury 'keeper apart from fuller. Rounding the 'keeper only to be brought down yet with a clear sight of goal... short corner, Leighton denied what seemed a clear penalty flick... Newbury came back at Leighton and yes you guessed it the number 10 for Newbury came up with the goods. With the luckiest goal of his career... topping a shot via a deflection under Galloway who seemed disappointed with himself. But there was nothing more he could do. With 10 to go Leighton knew there was a chance until Newbury got the ball into the D had a shot, bobbling about came to the top of the D with Wright and Galloway on the line the ball managed to sneak through. A finish only Alan shearer would've been proud of. A spirited 2nd half performance from Leighton, if they'd have played like this from the start who knows would could've been the outcome. Full time from Newbury. N&THC 7-3 LBHC 2Xi

MOM - Jim Galloway