Leighton face crucial clash with Aylesbruy United after draw

Leighton sit just a point behind the Ducks in Evo Stik Division 1 Central, who also drew on Saturday, sharing the points with Barton.

Bedford started the first half well after Serigne Mor Diop got past Sam Wyer in the Leighton goal but he couldn’t find the target from a tight angle.

The Eagles had another chance through Mor Diop, he and Matt Clifford both went for the same ball and neither player struck it with any pace.

Like Egham two weeks ago, Bedford were trying to shoot from range firstly through Ben Farrell and then through Clifford but both had the same end result both sailing well wide.

Bedford were doing well to press Leighton and perhaps deservedly took the lead in the 23rd minute through Josh Beech after a throw was flicked on for Beech, who from three yards couldn’t miss as he nodded it past Wyer.

Leighton had been moving the ball around nicely in the first half but hadn’t had a shot until skipper Ben Gallant shot from range and Bedford ‘keeper Enol Ordonez Suarez saved fairly comfortably.

There was more of a sense of urgency from Leighton in the second half and after a good cross from Ben Gallant, Hatch was inches away from equalizing.

This sense of urgency paid off on the 63rd minute after a Gallant free kick eventually reached Hatch who from 15 yards out struck a lovely volley that flew past Suarez.

There was a big stoppage in play when Mor Diop went down with a bad injury on his leg and had to be stretchered off and it was a nice gesture to see both sets of fans applaud him and to see Woodfine help stretcher him off, hopefully Serigne Mor Diop has a speedy recovery.

After play had resumed Leighton were still just about the better side and Hatch again had another good effort but his strike was straight at Suarez.

Part of the reason Bedford were creating less chances in this second half was through the form of Jordan Jenkins, there was a couple of times the visitors would have been through on goal were it not for an interception or a tackle from Jenkins.

Despite this Bedford were still trying to get all three points and after a goal mouth scramble, Leighton just about cleared the ball out. Moments after this Bedford had a free kick that had to be cleared off the line.

All in all neither side could get a decisive second goal and the game finished 1-1 and a point was the fair result in the end.

Leighton travel to Aylesbury on Wednesday night.