Things looking up for Leighton Town after a hectic seven days

Bell Close played host to it’s first league match of the season on Tuesday against St Ives.

After a well-fought opening half, St Ives took the lead .

That spurred Town into life though, and they were soon back in it with a brilliant strike from Enzo Silvestri.

Town could have won it in the dying stages but had to settle for a point - something which pleased assistant boss Richard Batten.

He said: “The number of people after the game commenting on a great performance, superb game of football and the fact the lads look like they’d run through walls for each other was a big box ticked in getting us to where we need to be.”

Town’s unbeaten beginning to the season came to an end on Saturday though as they went down 3-2 at home to AFC Hayes. The visitors took the lead through Lawrie Shennan on 29 minutes when he latched onto a through pass and coolly slotted home for his second goal of the season.

Leighton equalised on 39 minutes with a well worked goal, an excellent cross from the left was powerfully headed home by Shane Bush.

Leighton started the second half more purposeful and took the initiative from AFC in midfield, but created no clear goal scoring chances.

On 75 minutes debutant Joe Debayo rose powerfully to score on the far post from a corner for Hayes to lead 2-1.

Things got worse for Leighton as Tashan Jordan beat the Leighton off side trap and drove into the box setting up Dan Buckle to score on the far post, putting Hayes 3-1 up with 13 minutes remaining.

But a goal five minutes from time from pulled one back for Leighton, though it wasn’t to be as they went down 3-2. Boss Craig Wells felt his side did enough to win it though.

He said: “I really thought we should have taken the opportunity to take all three points on Saturday against what I thought was a very beatable Hayes side.

“On reflection the level of absence we had would probably cripple most sides at this level so perhaps we shouldn’t beat ourselves up too much.”

But two goals from Nat Peacock ended Town’s unbeaten week on Monday as Wells’ men went down 2-0. Ben Gallant could’ve equalised for Leighton at 1-1 but saw his free kick come back off the bar before the rebound was agonisingly cleared off the line.

Town’s next match is in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday against Biggleswade United at Bell Close.