Leighton's Men's 3s 6 - 3 Wycombe 5s

The Mens 3s were lined up for a tough game on Saturday - the redoubtable Wycombe 5s. The game was played out like a Hollywood script with heroes and villains and knife edge situations. The only problem was Wycombe thought they were to be the heroes!! Again Dear Reader I have to use that phrase that you all know and love ( or perhaps not) so well - Leighton fielded a strong but much changed side. Leighton set off at a fast pace and were one up within 5 minutes when a well worked short corner ended with Stuart Hart scoring when he received the ball from Dan Lambert to put the ball past the despairing hands of the Wycombe Goal keeper. However the changes in the team showed when almost from the restart Wycombe charged down their lefthand side of the pitch to split the Leighton Defence and equalise. From the restart the pressure was on Leighton and after a failure to clear a short corner properly Leighton found themselves 1-2 down. However don't ever say Leighton players lack spirit. Leighton sorted themselves out in midfield and began to put pressure on the Wycombe defence then in the 20 minute following the injection of the ball into the Wycombe penalty area in the melee that ensured Dan Lambert scored his first goal with a simple tap in. Now that the team were begining to gel Wycombe found it harder to make telling attacks. Leighton pressed and pressed and were rewarded with a third goal in around the 30th minute when working the ball down the Leighton left flank Dan Lambert took the ball into the Wycombe penalty area to slot home a cracking goal from a very narrow angle.

The second half started with Wycombe trying to regain their control of the midfield but were kept at bay by a strong midfield showing with Stuart Retford particularly outstanding. However in a rare foray into the Leighton area Wycombe were awarded a Penalty stroke which at the second time of asking they converted. This was now the real test of the team would it fight or wilt. The team fought and fought in spectacular fashion. Following a move down the left the ball came flying in along the ground straight across the front of the goal seemingly to go out for a push in on the other side of the pitch but the Wycombe defence had not reckoned on Pete Gale. With a full length dive ( which any Goal keeper would have been proud of) he thrust his stick out to contact the ball and with a flick of his wrist put the ball into the goal for Leighton's fourth in the 55th minute. This was a huge blow to Wycombe who visibly seemed to wilt but Leighton were like Gladiators going in for the kill and some five minutes later Dan Lambert put the ball into the top of the net for Leighton's fifth and his hat trick. Wycombe's attacks fizzled out but Adrian Gotzheim was there to give the coup de grace in the 67th minute to round off what was a hard fought but well deserved victory . An excellent team performance which has put the Mens 3s that bit closer to a possible promotion place. Two games to go.Two wins and promotion is there.

MoM: Dan Lambert