Leighton nearly pull off a shock result at Bedford Town

The first five mins were highly competitive with Jake Watkinson after a haul in his recent match to Stotfold getting a run on goal leading to a close shot . Bedford responded with a run and shot on goal which would have gone in had it not been for a great save by the Leighton goal keeper. More good play from the Leighton goalkeeper was to be witnessed throughout the match. Strong and top of the League Bedford kept the pressure on were not given a penalty following a strong call for one after a Bedford player was brought down during another attack on the Leighton goal. Continual first half occupation of the Leighton half by Bedford was met with several counter runs and close shots on goal by Leighton which seemed to be the pattern for most of the first half until the final quarter. Leighton started to take the game more to Bedford before half time with more and more runs and shots on goal and looked closer towards scoring following more menancing and intimidating play fron Watkinson. By the time the first half whistle went the more noisey Bedford fans were going quiet.

Five mins into the second half, Bedford came out fighting. Three mins into the second half, a long goal scramble finally led to a Bedford shot going in. However Leighton themselves kept fighting and within 10 mins had equalised with a goal from Luke Pyman. Leighton continued to put on the pressure with more runs and shots on goal and looked like pulling off a shock result and bringing an end to Bedford's unbeaten record. Leighton's threatening play led to some poor disciplined tackling from Bedford and eventually a penalty was awarded much to the protest of the Bedford players who claimed the foul was outside the box. Jake Watkinson took the penalty kick which was surprisingly saved. The referee blew up for a retake of the kick on the grounds that the goalkeeper had moved before the penalty kick was taken. What followed was anarchy in the goal mouth which when finally settled, the goal keeper sang the song, ' is there any justice in the world 'as Watkinson was running up to take the kick. The unsporting behaviour of the goal keeper must have put Watkinson off as he hit the retake penalty kick miles over the crossbar. 529 fans were in attendance at the match and GMK News can report that the stewarding of the away end was far from satisfactory as we witnessed one Bedford steward wearing a Bedford football scarfe under his yellow vest threatening to take off his stewarding vest at the end of the match and meet with one of the Leighton fans outside! Poor behaviour was also witnessed on the pitch as the Bedford players continued to step up their fouling in their frustration at not being able to stop Leighton's menacing play and growing threat of bringing their unbeaten record to an end. Missed opportunity and the continual confrontations amongst the players towards the end of the match nearly led to Bedford scoring a winner over the now deflated Leighton side in the closing mins of the game. Fortunately there was justice in the world as the shot on goal did not go in as Leighton clearly deserved at least a draw from this match due to their continual attacking play and disciplined performance throughout.