Managerless Northwood’s recent poor run of form continued on Saturday as they were crushed by a Leighton side on the fringes of the play-off places and they have now gone fourteen matches without a taste of victory.

Having battled out a 0-0 draw at Ashford Town in midweek, the Woods were hoping to produce more of a showing at Leighton but without the steadying influence of Mark Burgess, Sam Sharples and Mitch Swain, another weakened side never really looked like challenging a well-drilled Leighton outfit. Former Harefield and Uxbridge ‘keeper Charlie Miller came in for his debut in goal and must have hoped for a little more protection than he got.

Leighton were quickly into their stride but had not got in a blow before a neat exchange of passes between Charlie Hill and Scott Raper set up Murray Williamson for a shot which went only just wide. However, after 17 minutes Leighton made the breakthrough when a simple ball through the middle released James Hatch and he raced on to place the ball past the oncoming Miller.  

The home side were patient and scored with their next chance too when a free-kick was fired in and veteran defender Peter Clifford glanced a header past Miller who had no chance.

Williamson had been struggling with injury and was replaced soon after with youngster Romaine Walker going up front and Hill dropping back into a midfield role. Within a couple of minutes, Walker earned a free-kick and new skipper Ryan Tackley saw his effort turned over the bar by goalkeeper Kevin Marsh. From the resulting corner, John Sonuga had a free header but was unable to hit the target.

Walker had lifted the pace a little for the Woods and he found room for a shot on the turn which flashed wide of the target and followed that with a strike that Marsh dealt with comfortably. Leighton almost added to the scoreline in stoppage-time as a free-kick from Anthony Moulds crashed back off the crossbar.

What was to be a difficult task in the second-half was made a lot harder after 53 minutes when Andrew Murphy was shown a straight red card, reducing the Woods to ten men. Perhaps things should have been evened out at this stage as the wily Clifford ran 25 yards across the pitch to clout Murphy after the event yet still managed to keep his punishment to just a yellow – the benefit of age and experience I guess.

As had happened at Ashford, being reduced to ten men saw the Woods actually respond positively and produce some of their best football over the next period with Dean Wallace and Wayne Jackson both going close from free-kicks but Leighton increased their lead after 72 minutes when Liam Howley wrong-footed Miller with a simple shot.

Clifford dived into a ruck of players to head in a corner and make it 4-0 after 81 minutes and top scorer Ben Gallant finally got in on the act to score a fifth with three minutes to go.

A minute later, Walker should have scored a consolation as he raced clear of the home defence but though he beat Marsh, he also steered his shot wide of the post when trying to place it in the top corner.

Report by ALAN EVANS

Photos by James Brown