Leighton Town 1, Ware 3

Leighton Town, playing their fourth pre-season match on Saturday, were unable to reproduce the form shown against Hemel in midweek and eventually lost to two late goals against a good Ware side.

Town started well and for the first 15 minutes looked the better side but the visitors worked their way back into the game and Steve Root in the Town goal had to make a couple of decent saves to keep the scores level.

Ware took the lead after a lack of concentration in the Town defence around the half hour mark left an attacker free on the left of the area and he drove a low shot past Root to open the scoring.

Leighton pushed forward looking for the equaliser and Craig Kench shot over from a 25 yard free kick and just before the break the same player chipped the ball onto the top off the bar with the keeper well beaten.

Town made a good start to the second half and scored a terrific equaliser when Leon Gordon ran at the visitors defence before slotting the ball back across the keeper.

Midway through the half a Peter Clifford header looked bound for the top corner but the visiting keeper made a superb save to turn the ball around the post. From the resulting kick Enzo Silvestri put his header wide.

In another Town attack James O'Grady put in a good cross but James McNulty's headed effort went wide.

Just after this Jack Copson tried a fierce effort from 25 yards but this was deflected for a corner.

James Hatch broke clear of the Ware defence in the 85th minute but was unable to get his shot away, but the ball broke to Ben Gallant who saw his effort smothered by a grateful keeper.

Ware immediately broke away down their right flank and when the ball was eventually played across into the Town penalty area a Ware attacker finished well from 10 yards to give the visitors the lead.

Ware then rubbed salt into the wound when they added a third right on the final whistle.

Town played well enough but lack of concentration resulted in two of the visitors goals but overall this was still a decent performance particularly in the second half when Town were the better of the two sides.

But goals win games and Town could not find the finishing touch when required.

Town play at Hook Norton on Tuesday night and then entertain BGB Premier League side Brackley at Bell Close on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Any fans wishing to travel with the team to the opening league match at Nuneaton on August 16 or to Tilbury for the FA Cup match on August 30 can add their names to the Travel lists in the club bar.
Price £8 per ticket.