Gerrards Cross 2 v Men's 2

Leighton Buzzard 2XI 1 - 2 Gerrards Cross 2XI

Leighton made the trip to a snowy Beaconsfield to take on high fliers Gerrards Cross, full of hope following last week's display against Marlow. Having undertaken a thorough warm up (in the changing rooms) Buzzard started on the front foot and pushed their opposition into some last ditch defending for the first ten minutes. The forward line of Craig Westley, Fraser Retford and Josh Gale were causing Gerrards Cross concern, but unfortunately Buzzard were unable to capitalise on the half chances that they created.

Gerrards Cross grew in confidence and started to pin Leighton back into their own half, with their pacy wingers creating a number of opportunities that on another day their strikers would have finished; but the defence continued to hold firm. The opposition forced a series of short corners but Buzzard were determined not to concede with Methi man of the match Jim Galloway pulling off an outstanding save to keep the scores level.

Late in the half, Buzzard were concerned for the health of skipper Tim Bellamy when he went over on his ankle, but after his customary treatment he carried on gingerly. Half time came and at 0-0 Buzzard knew they were in the game and could cause their opposition some problems if they could up their intensity.

The second half started much as the end of the first finished, with Gerrards Cross pressing Buzzard high and finally the pressure resulted in a goal following a goalmouth scramble that Galloway was unlucky not to save. The goal seemed to spark Leighton into life and they started to hunt down the ball, press high and force the opposition into making a number of errors. Buzzard knew that if they kept playing with the same level of intensity, opportunities would come. Following some great interchange play between David Hooker, Westley and Simon Childs Buzzard forced a short corner. Westley pulled the ball out to David Wavish who took aim and fired from the top of the D following a series of bobbles on the newly relaid pitch. The ball looped into the air off the defender's stick, as it bounced Bellamy caught it in the sweet spot and with a crack it was past the keeper before he had chance to blink.

Back in it, both teams went for the win as the game ebbed and flowed with chances being created at both ends. Gerrards Cross were able to take advantage of one of these half chances. It looked like their striker was running down a cul-de-sac with the injured Will Jenkinson channelling him away from goal, then suddenly he cracked a shot on his reverse that flew into the bottom corner off the post. A stunning goal to rival Buzzard's equaliser.

Buzzard were not done yet and pressed their opposition back for the final five minutes of the game, with Josh Farnfield unfortunate not to find the back of the net after Gerrards Cross' goalkeeper plunged low to his right to claw the ball away. Soon after the final whistle followed. A great team performance and plenty on positives for Buzzard to build on next week. With the other results in the league going their way, Leighton are still handily placed to finish the season in the last "Champions League" place (i.e. 4th).