Injury to keeper Hosier forced defender Stirling between the posts for the majority of curtain raiser

Forced to play a defender in goal for more than an hour was not on Leighton Town’s bingo card for their first game Southern League Premier Division Central on Saturday.

A knee injury to first choice shot-stopper Daniel Hosier in the first-half left Town scrambling at the back for a replacement, with centre-back J’ardell Stirling pulling on the gloves for the Reds in their season opener against Redditch Town.

A valiant display from Leighton, rallying in the face of adversity, saw them secure a point in their first ever game at the level, drawing 1-1 at The Valley Stadium in a game which also saw a goal of the season contender from Sam King.

Boss Paul Reed said: “When your keeper pops his knee in an unopposed moment, we’re putting J’ardell in goal, it can go one of two ways: you can either give 120 per cent or completely down tools and think it’s not our day. What the boys have pulled off today is something everyone involved with the club should be proud of.

"The effort and application was through the roof. The game plan worked, we were really worthy of a point.”

Hosier had been called into action in the opening exchanges of the game, making a good save to keep the hosts at bay after seven minutes, but quarter of an hour later, he would be on a stretcher leaving the field.

Without a recognised keeper in the squad, Stirling swapped his outfield shirt for the green of the keeper.

And it looked as though he would be going in at half-time with a boost of confidence without conceding, but for a dreadful slice of luck when the ball bobbled around at a Redditch corner and it came off Jack Sayell – who came on for the injured Hosier – and into the net.

Town though would battle on and secure their reward with 18 minutes to go courtesy of a cracker from King. Kyal Williams broke down the right flank, pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot and after a deflection off a Redditch defender, King was able to steady himself and fire into the far corner of the net to equaliser and claim a share of the spoils.

“I’m immensely proud of the boys today,” Reed said. “I thought our shape was really good in possession, we were tough to break down, we defended really well.

“We’ve now got to assess the goalkeeping situation, Dan needs a scan because he will likely be out for a period of time. We’ve got options, but we’ve got to move quickly to get something done ahead of Tuesday, which is another big game.”

Town take on Kettering Town at Bell Close tonight (Tuesday).