Baldock Town FC 1 v 3 Leighton Town FC

This was Leighton Town’s first league match of the season and they are early favourites to win the league.
Leighton Town were first into action in 4 minutes when they fired a shot narrowly wide. In 6 minutes Baldock cleared the ball out to the left and worked it a bit before switching to the right where they found Hay on the right wing and he forced his way into the box to pass square to Coppin who was piling in on the goal. It was an easy knock in but he had made up a lot of ground to get there. Baldock 1-0.
Most of the action was in the Baldock half early on and Leighton Town were pressing but not entirely effectively. In 21 minutes a fluffed header back from Burton to Ponting forced the Keeper to bravely save at feet. Baldock were struggling to link up to front man L’Honore and he was getting more and more frustrated with the lack of quality service. Unfortunately the referee wasn’t helping him much. In 33 minutes Baldock made good progress down the right again with Hay who put a high ball into the box. Rome was advancing on to the cross and looked like he had a decent chance but the Referee decided to blow up for a head knock on a defender a few seconds earlier. The Ref then dropped the ball for the Leighton Town Keeper, when Baldock had been the team last in possession! Strange or what? Leighton Town went straight up the other end, won a corner and scored from it. No justice there at all.
Half time 1-1. Leighton Town were the better team but lucky to be drawing at this stage with Baldock struggling to find a quality ball from midfield.
Baldock had the first chance if the second half in 50 minutes when L’Honore had a run at the keeper but shot at him. Just after that Ponting was in action and was looking solid as he saved at his left hand post. Leighton Town scored from the resulting corner with McClelland picking up his second with a header from close in. Baldock 2-1 down.
Chaos erupted in 60 minutes when Leighton Town lobbed Ponting but Decker chased it back, cleared the ball with his hand and ran into the post. When he recovered the Ref sent him off for deliberate hand ball, I assume, and awarded a penalty to Leighton Town. Ponting saved it! This proved to be a bit of a turning point as Baldock then came to life and started to get stuck in. The back four seemed to be stable with Rowland coming on at centre half, Burton moved to left back and Reynolds moved across to the right. Logan and Gaffney also came on and their pace started to make a difference. In 75 minutes a good pass though the middle gave Hay a run on the Keeper but he saved well. A minute later Hay was again in the action when he rose above the Leighton Town defence and fired a good downward header narrowly past. In 79 minutes the ever industrious Coppin won a free kick 25 years out and Joy went close with kick. Baldock were looking the better team and were pushing hard for the equaliser. They then pushed Rowland up front and went three at the back. Unfortunately Leighton Town scored straight away before the Baldock defence could settle. A good decision to try to get something back with ten men but it didn’t work out this time. If Baldock had started the way they had finished they would have won this one easily. A disappointing 3-1 defeat for Baldock.
Team; Ponting (GK), Decker, Reynolds, Coppin, Furness (C), Burton, Joy, Rome, L'Honore, Hay, Morris, Doolan, Rowland, Gaffney, Logan, Harper.