LEIGHTON Town made it seven points out of nine in the Evostik Division 1 Central league after a 1-0 home win against Biggleswade Town.
The Reds have been on fine form in recent weeks and it was striker Enzo Silvestri who struck the winner just before half time with his fourth goal in three games to lift Town to 17th in the league and away from the drop zone.
Biggleswade started the better of the two sides and went close to taking the lead on a couple of occasions, once in the sixth minute and then again in the eighth minute when they were foiled by a good Kevin Marsh save before Paul Barnes drove the loose ball over the bar.
Town replied with an effort by Shane Hill that was deflected over the bar by a defender. Biggleswade thought they had taken the lead with a Donnelly header in the 17th minute but the assistant referee had his flag up and the goal was disallowed.
Town replied but Simpson’s header was saved by Leggett although the striker was also penalised for offside. Town then had a chance in the 31st minute when Hills drove the ball in but again Simpson’s header was easily dealt with by the keeper.
Town then had a terrific chance when Bewley drove in a cross but Simpson put his header straight at the keeper with the whole goal to aim at. Town took the lead in the 39th minute when Stuart Deaton lifted the ball forward and Folds could only head the ball back towards his own goal and Enzo Silvestri was quickly onto the loose ball and cleverly lifted it over the keeper for his third goal in the last two games. Two minutes later a hard low Bewley cross was deflected straight into the keepers arms by a defender, but it was enough to wrap up all three points.
Biggleswade cause was not helped when Donnelly was dismissed by the referee for a foul on Cunningham in the 50thminute. Town looked comfortable against 10 men but frustrated their fans at times by just knocking the ball around in their own half without showing much attacking ambition and their best chance was when Shane Hill’s powerful shot was well saved by Leggett before a follow up header by Simpson was cleared by a defender.
Town ‘s performances in their last three games will have delighted new Manager, Craig Wells as the commitment and levels of performance have been excellent. Town face another tough fixture on Saturday against Daventry but confidence should be high after the recent run.The Christmas period has been a successful one for Town which has seen them open a gap over the teams at the foot of the table.
When Wells first took over the club was languishing in the relegation places but he has turned it around. Now the club will be hoping to continue their good form when they take on Daventry Town on Saturday at Bell Close. This result came on the back of a tremendous performance against Woodford United which saw them win 3-0 away from home.
Leighton ended 2011 in style with three second half goals securing all the points after a good all round team performance from a side who were missing players through injury and illness. After their decent performance at Barton on Boxing Day, Town started confidently and in only the second minute, following a good run down the left wing by Jake Bewley, they went close to opening the scoring.
After racing down the wing the young midfielder crossed low towards the near post and Leon Simpson got a touch to the ball but his effort was deflected wide of the post by a desperate defensive effort.
On a very heavy pitch the pace of the game was not surprisingly at a low tempo but at times when Leighton increased the speed of their own play they looked by far the better side.
Woodford replied immediately and a good right wing cross was headed against the angle of the goal before Town cleared their lines.
In the 25th minute Town created another decent chance when Lewis McBride fired in a diagonal cross but once again Simpson headed just off target and Town fans were left wondering if this was going to be another display where failure to convert chances was going to prove costly.
Three minutes later Town went close to scoring a wonder goal - a superb diagonal pass from McBride was met on the volley 15 yards out by Bewley but his shot passed just wide of the near post with the keeper well beaten.
Town started the second half in positive mood and after only six minutes McBride’s pass found Bewley who raced towards the goal before firing in a fierce right footed shot which the keeper did well to push to one side. The visitors were not to be denied for long and two minutes later Enzo Silvestri fired in from close range to put them ahead.
Town were looking comfortable and in the 75th minute they increased their lead when Enzo Silvestri laid the ball back to Ross Hanley and he drove it into the roof of the net from 12 yards to double the lead. Town then looked as if they had scored a third when Simpson headed in from an in-swinging free kick but the referee’s assistant had already signalled for offside. Town however were still on the front foot and in the 85th minute Enzo Silvestri scored his second goal of the game after he chased a through ball and ran straight at the goal before smashing it past Finlay from close range to ensure the points belonged to Leighton.
It was a good all round performance by Town and Woodford could not argue that the best team won on the day. Enzo Silvestri showed all his characteristic qualities as well as scoring two goals and Bewley and McBride both kept their opponents on the back foot with some good attacking wide play.
Matched with a great result against a strong Biggleswade side yesterday Town are on the up as the new year begins.