Leighton Town 2-0 AVDFC

Team: Dan McAteer; Luke Nugent, Paolo Bagatti, Terry Griffiths, Jon Munday; Roy Byron, Alfi Touceda, Matty Chew, Callum Shortt, Jake Baldwin; Montel Brown

Subs: Davide Pobbe, Jack Hodgins, Dan Ball, Dan Boateng, Paul Adam

The Dynamos travelled to local rivals, Leighton Town, on Saturday afternoon and a crowd of 449 fans turned up to watch. A few changes with Roy Byron, Paolo Bagatti and Montel Brown all back in the starting line up as Steve Bateman changed things around as he searches for his preferred line up.

The first action of the match was for the Linesman who got cramp after just 4 minutes, but was just able to continue. Leighton started well and created an early chance which Dan McAteer made the save, however, on 9 minutes, Leighton scored as a long range effort seemed to go in slow motion as it crept into the far corner. Poor goal to concede. 1-0 Leighton. Jake Baldwin, operating on the left wing managed to swing in a decent cross but Montel Brown didn’t get on the end of it.

A few minutes later, Terry Griffiths played the ball into Matty Chew and he looped a ball into the box, but no Dynamos players were there. Roy Byron then made a challenge in the middle of the pitch, first one of the game and the referee gave him a yellow card…no idea why!! 23 minutes on the clock and Dan McAteer was called into action again as he stopped a shot on goal. Moments later Alfi Touceda collected the ball and moved forward well, but was taken out by a bad foul, the ball fell to Montel Brown and he hit a shot just wide of the target as the referee allowed play to continue.

Half an hour gone and Matty Chew was fouled and looked in pain. He managed to continue, but was clearly in pain. Bateman changed things a little as he threw Jake Baldwin up front, moved Callum Shortt over to the left and Montel Brown on the right. 35 minutes and Roy Byron won a free kick 20 yards out from the Leighton goal. Alfi Touceda took it and forced the Leighton keeper into a save. The resulting corner was headed back across by Jon Munday and Paolo Bagatti headed on target, but keeper made an easy save.

Leighton then went straight down the other end and Dan McAteer made a good save with his feet to thwart another attempt on goal. 3 minutes before the break, Matty Chew was unable to continue and was subbed off with Davide Pobbe coming on in the middle. As the clock ticked past 45 minutes played it was Davide Pobbe who set up Callum Shortt for Dynamos last chance of the half. Callum skipped past a challenge but his shot was deflected straight into the keepers arms.

Half time: Leighton Town 1-0 Dynamos

Within the first minute Dan McAteer was called upon to make another save, this time tipping the ball over from a decent effort. The resulting corner was headed clear by Jake Baldwin. Leighton Town then had a good 15 minute period of play as they rained in shots from all angles. First Roy Byron got a block in, then Jon Munday made a decent tackle. 51 minutes and another shot hit the post and rolled along the line and cleared by Paolo Bagatti before Leighton could get a shot away. 58 minutes and Leighton should have been out of sight, another chance went begging with Dan McAteer making another point blank save.

61 minutes and Steve Bateman made another sub. Montel Brown off and Dan Boateng coming on. Minutes later Jon Munday made an acrobatic clearance, but a Leighton player accidentally landed on his foot and Munday had to go off injured. He was replaced by Jack Hodgins after a lengthy treatment on pitch. 72 minutes and Dynamos were still in this game, Paolo Bagatti played a through ball to Jake Baldwin and his snap shot went wide of the mark. With about 10 minutes remaining Callum Shortt collected the ball and ran past two players and played in Jake Baldwin on the left side. Jake beat his marker and hit a superb shot over the keeper and rattled the crossbar. Almost the equaliser…even if against the run of play.

That shot momentarily shut the Leighton crowd up…however, 5 minutes later they were in fine voice again as they broke through and finally got a deserved second goal. 2-0 Leighton. The final chance of the match fell to Dynamos in the 94th minute as a poor clearance from the Leighton keeper fell to Callum Shortt, but his shot beat the keeper but went over the bar.

Final score: Leighton Town 2-0 AVDFC