Match 30. St Ives Town v Leighton Town

Saturday 21^st March 2015 @3pm

Southern League Division One Central

ST IVES TOWN 4-0 LEIGHTON TOWN

Pro Edge Stadium, Westwood Road, St Ives, Hunts.

Admission: £8

Programme: £1. Raffle £1.

Attendance: 229

Refreshments: Strongbow, £2. Sausage roll, £1. Chicken cup-a-soup, £1

I dropped off my Mrs and youngest daughter for retail therapy at Thurrock Lakeside and drove the 75 minute journey to Westwood Road to see mid-table versus strugglers Leighton. The parking at the ground is at a premium but the Leisure complex next door has free parking for up to 24 hours.  Turn left at the turnstiles to the club building which has a tea hut, changing rooms and clubhouse with overhang cover and 6 rows of terracing.  There is also a 2 row block of seating for the directors and officials only.  The dugouts are in front of this side. On the opposite touchline is the Main seated stand for around 250 with the rest of the ground having hard standing around the perimeter rail, infilled with mdf.  The locals are best described as ex-North London and many decide to stand right in front of the clubhouse door on the obviously yellow marked no standing area.

The first half was instantly forgettable as both sides struggled with the poor surface, content to argue with the ref at any opportunity. The game picked up in the second half as St Ives decided to concentrate on playing football and expose Leighton of their obvious weakness in midfield and at the back.

The first goal arrived early in the second half as a cross by the winger Seymour-Shove was met by the bearded captain to head strongly into the net. The second goal came from a penalty on 70 minutes as the player was unceremoniously dumped on the ground following a corner.  The 3^rd goal came as the winger again provided a good low cross for Hall to tap in from 6 yards. A 4^th goal arrived on 89^th minute when a long ball was headed down for my MOM Seymour-Shove to meet it and smash into the net from 6 yards.