Leighton Town's brilliant unbeaten league run ended by Potton United

Pictures by Andrew Parker

With Leighton Town still reeling from Saturday’s FA Vase exit, Potton saw an opportunity at Bell Close and came away with three points, writes Kieran Carvell.

It wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination, as the Royals ran out 3-0 victors.

It didn’t start well for Town, as star man Danny Webb was replaced after just 10 minutes, by James Towell.

To make matters even worse, five minutes later, the visitors were two goals to the good.

The first saw George Waters (the U18 captain making his third league start in four league games), wide, out of his area and as he looked to play up the line, his pass was intercepted. A Potton player managed to then curl the ball into the bottom far corner and Waters could only watch it roll in.

The second saw Potton captain Tony Williams get on the end of a searching free kick in the area and finish smartly at the near post.

With Town failing to get going and with Webb off the pitch, it was always going to be an uphill battle.

In fact, Town didn’t create a real chance for the whole of the half. Collier and Turner both had half chances, both thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Potton on the other hand, had a couple more opportunities, with a free kick going other and another free kick meeting the gloves of Waters.

The second half was once again, not a classic and it saw three early yellow cards. Condon, Silford and Potton’s 11 all entered the book in quick succession.

On 57 minutes, Silford was back in the action and this time, it was for all the right reasons. He superbly cleared off of the line with his head, after a powerful drive went past Waters. He managed to flick it on to the bar and anyway. It was destined to go in, an unbelievable piece of defending from Town’s left back.

Potton continued to put pressure on the Town Goal, this time a long range effort slammed the foot of the post.

Ben Pattie had Town’s best chance of the game on 69 minutes, when he swivelled and struck in the area, but his effort was dealt with well by the goalkeeper.

On 70 minutes, Potton found themselves down to 10 men. Their 11 who had already been booked went in on Condon and saw the second yellow brandished from the referee’s pocketbook.

With Town now having a man advantage, you wouldn’t of been mistaken for thinking there was a game on!

Changes were made, with Foulger and Adams on for Turner and Newbury-Barr.

But, it wasn’t the case. It went to 10 vs 10 when Jordon Fredericks got himself in the sin bin 11 minutes from time.

Town had one more opportunity on 85 minutes when Ben Pattie’s speculative strike thundered off of the crossbar from all of 35 yards. If that had gone in, it would’ve been goal of the decade.

Jordon Fredericks was re-introduced on 90 minutes, but saw his side concede again on 92. A Williams strike straight at Waters, somehow snuck underneath the young keeper's gloves and it went in.

3-0 and game over for Town.

The 18 league game unbeaten run is over, with Town going over 5 months unbeaten in the league. A fantastic achievement in itself, but a disappointing way to lose an unbeaten run.

Town go again on Saturday, at home to North Greenford United.