LEIGHTON Town manager Craig Wells says his side’s performance at Ashford Town on Saturday was unacceptable.
A single first half goal proved enough to condemn Leighton to a second defeat in three matches, piling the pressure back on the club in their attempts to avoid being sucked into an Evo-Stick League Division One Central relegation scrap this season.
So disappointed with his side’s performance was he that Wells is set to order almost the whole side to play in Tuesday night’s Beds Senior Cup tie at Biggleswade United.
That will include new recruit Layne Eadie, who along with new goalkeeper Haydn Dodge, were the only two players to emerge from the 1-0 defeat able to hold their heads up high, according to Wells who put in three ‘seven day approaches’ for new players on Monday – a defender, midfielder and a striker.
Dodge was making his debut in goal – the 19-year-old drafted into the squad just in time to replace Kevin Marsh who suffered a freak eye injury at work.
Leon Simpson moved into the attack with Ben Gallant playing in midfield in place of Shane Hill who has a leg injury.
Town created a chance after just two minutes when Gallant chipped the ball towards the far post, but Simpson’s close range header went wide.
Ashford replied when they cut in from their left flank but Dodge produced a good block at his near post to end the threat. However, it didn’t take the hosts long to open the scoring – Bitmead firing past Dodge after 12 minutes.
Much of the first 45 minutes was battled out in the midfield as both sides gave the ball away cheaply and neither looked to be a serious attacking threat.
Town went close to scoring an equaliser after 40 minutes when Jake Bewley on the right raced past a defender but his right foot shot struck the near post before rebounding to safety.
Ashford created a chance when the ball was crossed into the box early in the second half, but their two strikers were unable to get a decisive touch and Town cleared their lines.
Wells gave Eadie his first run out for Town to replace Simpson after 65 minutes, and the change helped spark the visitors into a bit more life.
Soon after coming on Eadie laid the ball off to Enzo Silvestri but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. And Leighton went close again through Silvestri when he headed straight at the keeper via a Lewis McBride corner.
McBride and Gallant both had further efforts at goal before play was switched to the other end of the pitch where Dodge pulled off a fantastic save from a powerful headed effort.
The young keeper earned the praise of his manager, but Wells was left furious with his team’s overall display and is demanding a return to form at lower league Biggleswade on Tuesday night, before they visit a Bedworth side sat third in the table on Saturday.
He said: “To be honest it was a dreadful game and we got what we deserved from it.
“We looked brighter after the break but we didn’t do enough to trouble them enough. We seem to play better against the good sides so hopefully there will be a huge improvement on Saturday.
“I want them to get the defeat out of their systems on Tuesday and come back with an improved performance against Bedworth.
“On paper we should struggle to get a result, but I want to see a much better performance.”