Mighty Men's 3's home to Reading (6) Rascals

Leighton Buzzard knew it would be a tough game facing 2nd placed Reading and were ready for a battle. Leighton started brightly with Tommy Lakins having a goal ruled out due to the umpires deeming the control on the back stick. Then with Readings first true attack of the game, they went up the other end and slotted one past George Hoskins with this his only mistake of the game giving the away side a 1-0 lead on 15 minutes.

Feeling a little hard done by, Leighton shifted gears and played some great hockey resulting with Chris Marshall deflecting past the Reading keeper to tie it up at 1 a piece with 28 minutes gone.

Leighton’s pressure didn’t stop there. With a mistake from Readings defence, Tommy Lakins was then able to put it past the Goalkeeper making the scoreline 2-1 just a few minutes later on 32 minutes.

Reading heads were starting to go and a fantastic ball from Dan Lambert sent Jack Gotzheim free who rounded the keeper only for a Reading foot stopping a certain goal. Unfortunately, Gotzheim missed the resulting penalty stroke.

Half time score 2-1 to the Mighty 3’s.

Leighton's half time team talk was put to great effect piling the pressure onto Reading’s defence forcing the Reading centre back to top a hit which Dan Wright pounced on and finished expertly on the reverse to put Leighton buzzard 3-1 Up in the 36th minute.

After going 3-1 down Reading picked up their heads and started to fight back and get into Leighton’s defence. Reading were awarded a few short corners, but with Leighton’s tight defence and George Franklin in goal, they were unable to make anything of it.

Leighton again broke free and was awarded a short corner which saw Dan Lambert put the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 4-1 in 58th minute.

Leighton didn’t let their game slip and saw captain Oliver Parren slip it past the goalkeeper making the final score 5-1.

Probably the best performance of the season by the Mighty 3’s and a well deserved 3 points.

Man of the match went to Dom Thelwell.