North Leigh Football Club

North Leigh 4 - 0 Poole Town

The Millers knew they faced their sternest test in the League to date with the visit of high flying Poole Town. However Poole unbeaten in the League to date with 7 wins and a draw and 6 points clear at the top came up against a resilient North Leigh team that outplayed them in every department and with better luck could have scored a hatful against a strangely lacklustre opposition.

On 2 mins a defence splitting crossfield ball from Leigh's Tom Franklin to Michael Hopkins who carried the ball forward and centred, was headed just wide by John Mills. For the next ten minutes Poole exerted pressure on the Leigh goal and although no real chances were created the ball was constantly in and around the box.

The picture changed on 12 mins when Mills scorned a good chance for the Millers as he was fed a through ball by Lewis Coyle, shot and was disappointed to see the ball slide just wide of the far post. The same player had an even better chance two mins later as a combination of Wayne Turk and Coyle passes put him on a 1 on 1 with Poole keeper Nick Hutchings. As the keeper came out, Mills dragged his shot inches wide of a post again.

However on 19 mins Mills redeemed his earlier misses when he scored from the penalty spot after being tripped by defender Will Spetch as he burst through on goal. Two minutes later with the home side dominating play, Hopkins fed Mills again and from 8 yds out he cooly clipped the ball past Hutchings for goal No 2.

Poole shocked at the turn of events and urged on by their commanding skipper Michael Walker and a large vocal travelling support tried to raise their game. However their only half chances were a couple of free kicks awarded to them which were well defended and cleared by a resolute Millers defence.

HT: North Leigh 2 - 0 Poole Town

The expected early pressure from the visitors was dealt with by the Millers.
Carl Preston for Poole put in a half cross cum shot on 48 mins that cleared the bar and as the half wore on without any tangible success for the visitors, the Millers started to push forward more. Hopkins on the left flank was particularly dangerous and a number of his crosses from 60 mins onwards severely tested the Poole defence. Eventually the breakthrough for Leigh came on 79 mins. Jon Else picked up the ball on the left jinked his way into and past a defender into the box with slick footwork and was summarily tripped by Petch who gave away the penalty and was dismissed for a second caution. John Mills stepped up sent the keeper the wrong way and bagged his well deserved hatrick.

With their tails up and against a weakened Poole defence it was all one way traffic for the home side and a fourth goal came on 89 mins when yet another pinpoint Hopkins cross fell to Coyle 5 yds out from goal who hammered the ball past a helpless keeper to finish a thoroughly excellent performance.

FT: North Leigh 4 - 0 Poole Town


North Leigh: Warrell, Westlake, Organ, Turk, Franklin, Caton, Coyle, Clark (Hole 88m), Mills (Deabill 82m), Alexis (Else 45m), Hopkins   Sub not used: Sanders