Eleven goal thriller

Leighton went to Gerrard Cross with a hunger to get back to winning ways. They started well with some slick passing throughout the team resulting in the first short corner of the game, Tim Bellamy finishing with a strong strike into the bottom corner. Gerrard Cross responded well however, replying minutes later to make it 1-1. Leighton had discussed their movement of the ball around the back and this was put to good use, with the back line of Tom O'Reilly, Liam Wavish, Will Riley, Fraser Retford and Tom Handley working hard to keep the ball and suppress the opposing attack. A swift counter attack resulted in another short corner, with Bellamy again repeating his strike and putting Leighton 2-1 up. Their third goal epitomised everything they had discussed beforehand, with the ball moving around the whole of the defence, through the whole midfield of Martin Bailey, Bellamy and Laurence Leech, through to Kevin Abranches and Dan Wright, who found Steve Fuller at the back post to make it 3-1. Gerard Cross came straight back however and made it 3-2. Leighton however remained in the attack and were soon 4-2 up after good work from Wright saw the ball fly across the goal, only for Fuller to acrobatically volley the ball into the next from a height. A frantic first half was completed with a converted flick making it 4-3.

Leighton started the second half strongly and were quickly ahead by 2 again when leech found Wright who expertly rounded the keeper and finished. From this point Leighton were under high pressure and found themselves repeating similar mistakes to previous games. Jim Galloway making good saves helped keep the scores level however Gerard Cross scored right at the end and ending with the score of 6-5.