North Leigh Concede Four Goals to High Flying Yate Town

Improved performance from much changed North Leigh

North Leigh 1 – 4 Yate Town

Although the score line doesn’t reflect a better performance than recent games, the team dug in and more than matched their high flying opponents in a gritty first half. Moreover Leigh introduced into their starting line up two players having their first outing of the season, Anthony Simpson in midfield and new signing Matt Sysum in defence making a welcome return to the club. In addition off the subs bench in the second half came two more “new boys”, Ryan Barney in a defensive role and Oxford United legend Jamie Cook up front. However Yate are in a rich vein of form at present and turned on the style early in the second half notching two goals and although Leigh replied, Yate added two more late goals to wrap up the points.

In the first half there were precious few chances created by either team, but of those that were created, the best came from the visitors. On 13 minutes Leigh lost the ball in midfield with Yate passing it quickly out wide right. The subsequent centre was headed just over the Leigh bar by Ben Brooks. On 36 minutes Trey Anderson tried his luck from distance and although well struck, the ball flew just wide of Jack Griffiths right hand post. A few minutes later Kyle Tooze beat Jordan Lymn just inside the Leigh box and fizzed a shot which Griffiths did well to save. For Leigh their best chance fell to Michael Hopkins just before the break when a pinpoint Lymn centre from the right was headed firmly by Hopkins unfortunately directly into the hands of Yate keeper Harvey Rivers.

HT: North Leigh 0 – 0 Yate Town

Yate were straight out of the blocks and on 48 minutes took the lead when, 20 yards out from the Leigh goal, the ball fell to Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist who hit a hard low shot to Griffiths right and although he got a hand to the ball couldn’t prevent it dropping over the line. Yate doubled their lead on 52 minutes when Ben Brooks, in another attack, hit a precise right foot shot from 15 yards which gave the keeper no chance as it flew into the top corner.

Leigh reacted well to the setback and pushed forward. On 57 minutes following a corner the ball was headed towards goal by Matt Sysum and as the ball dropped Ryan Paddock prodded it home from close range. Leigh raised their game in search of an equaliser but they were disappointed to concede a third goal on 78 minutes when Leigh-Gilchrist hit another super shot that from distance to put the game beyond Leigh. Despite Jamie Cook entering the fray Leigh couldn’t find a way through the solid Yate back line and right on time Yate substitute, Giancarlo Gabladdini, scored a fourth goal stabbing the ball home from 2 yards.

FT: North Leigh 1 – 4 Yate Town

North Leigh: Griffiths, Lymn, Hopkins (Barney 72), Sysum, Wellon, Paddock, R James, Sheehan, Seacole (Cook 79), McGlynn (Waldon 56), Simpson Subs not used: Keightley, Grabe

Attendance: 65

Referee: Mr Daniel Lamport from Swindon