AVDFC 0-1 Leighton Town

Team: James Weatherill; Alex Mitchell, Will Mullarkey, Kyle Lincoln, Terry Griffiths; Roy Byron, Dave Brown, Callum Shortt, Jake Baldwin; Chris Stapleton, Brian Haule

Subs: Matty Chew, Ollie Lawford, Montel Brown, Jack Hodgins, Luke Nugent

Steve Bateman was forced into an early team change as Alfi Touceda was injured in the warm up, meaning Roy Byron was starting alongside Dave Brown. New signing, Kyle Lincoln was also making his debut in this local derby with high flying Leighton Town.

The first action saw Leighton attack down the Dynamos left, but James Weatherill saw the danger and ran out to clear well. Down the other end Callum Shortt failed to capitalise on a Leighton mistake as he nipped in before the defender and got a shot away, just wide of the far post.
Less than 10 minutes played and captain, Dave Brown, managed to collect a pass from Roy Byron and squeeze a shot on target, but the keeper was more than equal to it.

13 minutes and a controversial moment in the match. Leighton worked the ball through the Dynamos defence and their player was through on goal. James Weatherill came storming out of his goal, just outside the area and fouled their player on the edge of the box. The crowd waited for the sanction, with Dynamos fans fearing a straight red…luckily Will Mullarkey had managed to get back enough to deem the foul a Yellow Card….phew!!! A few minutes later and another attack was thwarted by the impressive Will Mullarkey again, this time getting a challenge in and winning a goal kick.

22 minutes and Dynamos thought they had the lead. Alex Mitchell sent a cross field pass onto the head of Chris Stapleton, he nodded onto Brian Haule who finished well, but was called offside instantly. On the half hour, another offside call against Dynamos. This time a good run and pass from Will Mullarkey found Chris Stapleton just straying offside as Dynamos took the game to Leighton. 36 minutes and Kyle Lincoln sprayed the ball out wide to Will Mullarkey and again, he sent a ball onto the head of Brian Haule and he found Callum Shortt with some room to move forward but he hit his shot over the bar. Good move from Dynamos.

With five minutes of the half remaining Leighton had a long range effort which James Weatherill gathered well. At the other end Jake Baldwin also had an effort from 35 yards saved by the Leighton keeper. With half time looming, Dynamos had the last attack. Roy Byron was fouled in the centre circle and Jake Baldwin hit a free kick, headed on by Terry Griffiths and Kyle Lincoln was at the back post to volley towards goal, but just wide of the target.

Half time: Dynamos 0-0 Leighton

The first real action of the second half saw Roy Byron making a crunching tackle in the middle which the referee too exception too and gave a yellow card. A couple of minutes later and Roy Byron and a Leighton player tangled and another free kick was given against Roy Byron. Steve Bateman made a quick call and replaced Roy with Matty Chew.

59 minutes and Jake Baldwin sent a lovely ball down the line where Chris Stapleton rose the highest and was bulldozed over by their centre back…but the free kick went against Dynamos? Strange decision. Over an hour played and Will Mullarkey was again on the move, he went round a couple of Leighton players and played a through ball to Chris Stapleton. He managed to get a shot away, but was well blocked and cleared by Leighton.

The game was pretty even with Dynamos having the better chances. With quarter of an hour left Ollie Lawford was introduced for Brian Haule.
78 minutes and Dynamos were on the attack, but another (yawn) long ball from Leighton managed to bounce through to their striker and lob James Weatherill who had come out to collect. 0-1 to Leighton against the run of play. Montel Brown was then introduced for the final 10 minutes for Callum Shortt.

The final 10 minutes saw both sides battling for possession but not getting any clear chances. Will Mullarkey got a yellow card with a minute remaining and the game ended AVDFC 0-1 Leighton.