A third successive league defeat for just the second time this season was not the way Welwyn Garden City wanted to spend non-league day.
The 2-0 reverse at Bell Close saw 613 spectators pile through the door, Leighton Town's biggest crowd of the season, and the home fans had plenty to shout about as they brought up an eighth successive victory.
But whereas WGC boss Marc Weatherstone was justifiably angry with his side’s second-half showing at Beaconsfield a fortnight ago, and their poor home display against Stotfold last time out, he can take some comfort from their second-half performance here.
After turning around 2-0 down, keeper Donny Green also saving a penalty in a home team dominated first-half, the Citizens came back strongly to out-work Leighton and control the second 45.
Sadly, the lack of cutting edge in the current Herns Way line-up, meant that they couldn’t cut the home lead, despite some impressive approach work.
The big crowd were given a goal to cheer in seven minutes. Tolu Ikinjminu swung in a deep cross from the right, that flicked off WGC defender Panny Boxer’s head and beat team-mate Green to find the top corner of his own net.
WGC tried a quick response, new forward Coree Wilson feeding Matty Whichelow, but he shot into the side netting.
Lewis Taaffe then came in on a corner at the near post with a flicked header, but that was off target as well.
A very brave block from keeper Green to deny one-time WGC striker Lynton Goss - now skippering Leighton - prevented the visitors falling further behind.
But it was only staving off the inevitable. Poor marking from a left sided throw saw winger Sam King escape down the by-line and slot over a low cross that Kyal Williams tucked past Green into the far corner.
The deficit could have been even worse four minutes from the break, Bradley Gothard’s challenge on Godlove Oppong winning Leighton a penalty, but Oppong’s kick was well saved by the legs of Green.
On the stroke of the interval, Taaffe brought home keeper George Rose to a save low down, with his shot for the corner.
WGC opened the second-half with a Brad Wadkins effort from Layne Eadie’s cross that just cleared the bar and a free-kick from Taaffe that was deflected wide, after the midfielder had been brought down on the edge of the area.
It heralded a much better second-half from the Citizens, particularly in the final half-hour after Weatherstone made a triple substitution, bringing on Eddie Corbit, Dennis Halliday and Lewis Jones.
Taaffe, Wilson and Charlie McDonald were the trio making way.
WGC played the ball around impressively with Whichelow having an influential final half-hour, in particular.
One fine cross-field ball found Jones, who struck his effort over the top and then 10 minutes from time, Whichelow himself hit WGC’s best effort from fully 30 yards out, but it was just past the far post.
Despite their second-half recovery, the Citizens couldn’t make any in-roads into the scoreline and became the latest victim on hosts Leighton’s bid to make a late run into the Southern League Division One Central play-offs.
WGC: Green, Otseh-Taiwo, McDonald (Corbit 62), Boxer, Gothard, Eadie, Velasco, Whichelow, Taaffe (Jones 62), Wilson (Halliday 62), Wadkins.
Sub (not used) Read.
