ADAMS GIVES THE REDS VICTORY

LEIGHTON TOWN 2 WALTON & HERSHAM 1

LEIGHTON TOWN face Cobham away next week after beating nine-man Walton and Hersham at Bell Close in a scrappy game.

The winner came straight from a corner by Ross Adams in the 65 minute.

The home side were missing five regulars including captain Jordon Frederick but the game, that started at 6pm due to the Funeral of HRH Prince Philip, started off at a frenetic pace, Alex Kelly missing a close range header for Walton & Hersham.

After five minutes Danny Webb was fouled by Louis Collins at the edge of the area and Webb stepped up to put the Reds one up.

This seemed to put a bit of life into the away side but they couldn’t really put any pressure on the home defence, with crosses going astray.

On 25 minutes Liam Allen in the Walton goal stopped a second with a point-blank save from Jim Barnside, who was bullying the home side’s defence. This was how it finished at half time.

Soon after the break in the 50th minute the equaliser came with a long ball into the area, Alex Kelly heading the ball over the advancing Brad Kirkwood in the home side’s goal.

This was just about deserved from the visitors, playing a side a Step above. But the task became harder when they were reduced to ten men.

Max Hustwick became the first Walton & Hersham player to see red when his high boot led to his second yellow in the 56 minute.

The winner came in the 65th minute after a corner, which seemed to come off Danny Webb for a goal kick, was put straight in from the taker, Ross Adams, drifting over keeper Allen into the far post.

Ex-Corinithian Casuals forward Jamie Bryant was brought on for Sean McCormack in the 74th minute, however this wasn’t to last long as just five minutes later he too was given a straight red for another high boot, this time following through on the home side’s keeper.

The Swans did go close in the final minutes with Kelly hitting the bar with a turn in the area, however the Reds march on.