A PATCHED up Leighton Town side produced another battling display on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to prevent another defeat as they went down 4-0 to Biggleswade Town.
Dropping to 19th place in the table, it was Town’s fourth Southern League Division One Central defeat on the spin, and stretched their winless home run to nine games, dating back to October 13 when they beat Thatcham Town 3-1.
Despite their struggles, Town will be spared relegation because bottom side Woodford United remain pointless this season, and look set to resign from the league regardless of their final position.
There seems to be no end in sight to Town’s woes though, with off-the-field financial issues forcing players to turn out for free in recent months, and even if they have been producing a handful of admirable performances, they have not yet brought much success when it comes to picking up league points.
Saturday’s visit from an experienced Biggleswade Town side chasing at least a play-off place this season brought an unfortunately predictable outcome as they left with all three points, but only after discovering their scoring form in the second half as a young Town team held them to 0-0 at the break.
However, four goals in 13 minutes sorted the men from the boys in the second half, leaving Town with a 15th defeat from 24 league games this term.
But it wasn’t for the want of trying as Town again had to make changes to their side, with Jack Pursey – a last minute withdrawal – forcing manager Paul Copson to re-think his plans.
Old favourite Andy Fagan played his first game for Leighton and Dan Hewitt returned from Dunstable Town and was probably Town’s best player on the day. Adrian Millard was also included in the side, making his debut in midfield.
On a bitterly cold day the match started slowly, but Town created an early chance for Jerry Nash who just couldn’t get enough power in his shot.
Town had a narrow escape a couple of minutes afterwards as a Biggleswade corner saw Daniel drive his shot against the outside of the post.
Ten minutes after that, Jack Copson did well to head the ball off his own goal line after another Biggleswade attack.
The visitors were starting to exert pressure on the Leighton defence, but the home side broke quickly in the 25th minute and created a decent chance to equalise, but Mark Burfoot shot weakly and the opportunity was wasted.
Immediately Biggleswade took the attack to the other end and Donnelly’s shot drew a block from Sam Mazurek, and Fagan completed the clearance.
Knight then drove a 30-yard effort just over the Leighton crossbar as the visitors kept searching for the opening goal. Town then had to make an early substitution in the 32nd minute after Millard received a serious cut and Kyal McNulty came on to replace him.
Biggleswade had a great chance to go in front just after the half-hour mark when they had a three-on-two situation but Donnelly wasted it by blasting way over the bar.
A minute later and Mazurek made a wonderful save, diving low to his left to turn Daniels’ shot around the post.
Town then produced a great move down their right flank involving Hewitt and Leon Gordon, but Burfoot’s headed effort was easily collected by the away goalkeeper.
Having reached the break on level terms, Leighton might have hoped that, with the wind at their backs, they could produce more of an attacking threat in the second half. However, with just nine minutes gone, Biggleswade finally took the lead and the floodgates opened.
A low cross was played in from the right and Case tucked the ball neatly home. And before the hosts had time to settle down, the visitors grabbed a second goal when Donnelly headed in another cross from the right flank.
Worse was to follow two minutes later when Case cut in from the left to curl the ball across Mazurek, and the fourth goal followed from Allinson who curled a beauty into the top corner.
The closest Town came to scoring was Burfoot’s effort against the bar in the final 10 minutes.
Leighton travel to Daventry Town on Tuesday night before hosting Chalfont St Peter at Bell Close on Saturday.