FOOTBALL: North Leigh's bid comes to an end (From Witney Gazette)

FOOTBALL: North Leigh's bid comes to an end

10:00am Monday 23rd April 2012 in Local Football

North Leigh’s slim chance of making the last remaining Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West play-off place disappeared with a 2-1 home defeat by Poole.

The hosts were already rueing an early miss by John Mills when Poole took the lead after seven minutes.

A weak goal kick by Sam Wa rrell was seized upon by Poole and returned into the six-yard box, from where Carl Preston had a simple tap-in.

Poole skipper Michael Walker saw his rasping header smash against the North Leigh bar and rebound to safety.

The visitors’ second goal came moments later when they headed against a post from a free-kick and Alec Baldacchino, following up, nodded in from close range.

Warrell then denied Poole a third goal with a fine save.

The Millers threw caution to the wind in the second half with a series of attacks.

But even the introduction of substitutes Ben Reardon and Joe Burnell could not break down a resolute defence.

A confident shout for a North Leigh penalty after a trip on Toby Clark in the box, was waved away by the referee.

But a few minutes later a subsequent trip on Elliott Os-borne-Ricketts was given and Stuart Hole calmly tucked the spot-kick away.

North Leigh: Warrell, Hole, Hopkins, Clark, Franklin, Caton, Sanders, Bowles (Reardon 56), Mills (Burnell 56), Osborne-Ricketts, Williams. Subs not used: Organ, Merriman, Crudup.

Attendance: 172.