Town Win Against London Colney

Leighton Town were back in league action on Tuesday night and back to winning ways in an impressive 4-2 victory against London Colney. The weekend’s FA Vase heartbreak was long forgotten as Paul Bonham’s side bounced back in commendable fashion. Two goals either side of the break were enough to see off the bottom half opposition despite two goals of their own in the second half.
In the first five minutes, the home side were more than happy to build out from the back. Town moved forward and the first real chance came on eight minutes. Midfielder and Captain Alfie Osborne found himself with a bit of room on the edge of the box and pinged his left footed effort just wide of the top left corner. 15 minutes in, the great build up from the back was noticeable again as Leighton moved from defence to attack – finding Ashton Campbell on the left. He put in a low cross for new man Leon Lobjoit who just side footed wide of the right post.
A goal seemed inevitable, and fans didn’t have to wait too long as Town broke the deadlock two minutes later. More progressive possession yielded a free kick just inside the London Colney half. Tom Silford floated it in from the left and Bill Morgan rose to head it back across. His header was high but caused havoc in the box. The keeper failed to deal with it and it broke to Campbell whose driven effort slid into the bottom left corner through both sprawled defender and keeper alike.
25 minutes in, the visitors looked to make an impression on the Leighton box. First, a free kick from the right was cleared easily before Kirkwood was forced into action three minutes later – pouncing on a loose ball from a deflected shot.
Later, the away side carved out another first half attempt. A shot on the edge deflected wide left but had the goalkeeper moving. Less than 3 minutes later on 40’, the Blueboys were there again with two quickfire chances. The first shot was parried on the bounce by Kirkwood before his poor clearance was intercepted in the midfield. The second effort was fired down low to his right and he saved well with his feet before Leighton moved out of the half with Osborne.
Bonham’s side moved through the gears to get from back to front - and the dynamic attack had the defence at sixes and sevens. A late flick in the box led to a Leighton Town penalty and up stepped Lobjoit. The former Northampton striker slotted his penalty emphatically into the bottom right corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in what was effectively the last real action of the first half.
The second period started with great intent. Although that got lost in translation with an Osborne yellow card on 49’. Striker Lobjoit was back at Leighton for his second spell and another man doing the same was young midfielder Luke Pyman. Back after a successful spell away with Potton United, he was introduced in the second half for Brian Foulger on 57 minutes.
Continued early pressure saw the visitors pull a goal back on 64 minutes. A big block from Bill Morgan led to a corner. The ball from the right went through the men at the front post and bounced kindly for the number six who side footed into the right side of the goal.
65 minutes saw another Leighton substitute. New player Sam Olawale was introduced for Ross Adams. However, it was the earlier substitute Pyman who would have the next influence in the game. Cruyff turning back on his right just outside the box, he got his head up and curled an accurate shot into the bottom right corner despite a desperate hand from the goalkeeper.
That keeper would be back in action on 73 minutes, as Olawale was another one keen to get a good start. The winger cut in from the right side and curled one on his left – only to be denied by a brilliant full stretched keeper tipping round the left post.
Just after this, Olawale would get in the Leighton good books. After being slid in by Luke Dunstan, he ran down the right before floating a tempting cross to the back post. Lobjoit was there to nod home to make it 4-1 – bagging his brace.
It looked to be a resounding score line, but to their credit, London Colney didn’t give up. 78 minutes saw a half chance float over the Leighton goal, before on 85’ the Blueboys got another consolation goal. A cross from the left was met with a strong header that looped high back over Kirkwood into the left corner. Two minutes later they could’ve set up a tight finish but were denied a contentious penalty and were instead (perhaps wrongfully) booked for simulation.
The full-time whistle signalled another good result in the Spartan South Midlands League, as Leighton Town slowly adapt to a new style of play. It also ended a great game where new talent had been filtered nicely into the side.
As it stands, Town are back on top of the table, but other sides still have games in hand. This result was a good set up for more action on Saturday when Leighton make the short trip to Totternhoe in the South Midlands League Trophy.