Akintunde scores but also sees red as Flackwell fall short against unbeaten Leighton

Matt Ayres was brought down for Flackwell’s spotkick. Photo credit: Jeremy Vaughan @jezz_takes_pics (instagram)

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Flackwell Heath 1, Leighton Town 2

Flackwell Heath were arguably the better side in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to unbeaten league leaders Leighton Town, but they struggled to get back into the game after falling behind late in the first half.

Chris Ayres’ Heathens had been buoyed by Saturday’s deserved 2-0 win at AFC Dunstable, a result which brought an end to a disappointing run of five straight losses in all competitions.

Having been edged out by Maldon & Tiptree in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, the Heathens’ previously unbeaten league form took a turn for the worse, with defeats coming thick and fast against Biggleswade, Welwyn Garden City, Hertford Town and Thame United.

But they bounced back on Saturday with goals from Juwon Akintunde - his first for the club - and Charlie Bacon to seal a 2-0 win at Dunstable.

Heath will hope and expect to be in and amongst the fight for promotion this season, so they’ll have been hoping to carry that momentum into last night’s clash at Wilks Park.

But their miserly visitors were able to scramble over the line for a 2-1 win, thanks to two first half strikes from BJ Christie. It was their 11th win from 14 matches this season with the other three being draws.

However, Flackwell more than gave them a good game and will feel they should probably have taken at least a point from the clash.

Christie nodded the visitors in front in the 29th minute, but Akintunde equalised from the penalty spot in the 40th minute after Matty Ayres was chopped down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Akintunde swept the ball home for his second goal in as many games but would later go from hero to villain in this clash after collecting an unnecessary red card late on.

Christie restored Leighton’s lead in the 43rd minute with a deflected strike and the Heathens’ luck remained out in the second half as they dominated their visitors but couldn’t make that pressure count. Akintunde’s late red hardly helped them in that endeavour, but they’ll now have to dust themselves down and go again with third placed Barton Rovers the visitors to Wilks Park this Saturday.

Tuesday’s result leaves Flackwell 14th - and much closer to the relegation places (five points) than they are to the play-off spots (11 points). However, they have played one or two fewer games than most of the teams above and below them.