Zamaretto Southern League

NORTH Leigh may be still fighting for a play-off spot in Division 1 South & West, but they are already on top of one chart.

The west Oxfordshire side have the highest goals-per-game ratio in the division and the second-highest in the Zamaretto Southern League behind Central Division side Uxbridge.

In North Leigh’s 31 league games so far this season, there have been an astonishing 125 goals at an average of 4.03 per game.

This is only bettered by Uxbridge (152 goals at 4.11 per game).

But manager Mark Gee admits to having a few more grey hairs on his head after another goal bonanza in midweek.

North Leigh beat Bridgwater 6-3, but found themselves 3-0 down after 26 minutes.

Gee joked: “I suppose I should be happy that we haven’t conceded for nearly 70 minutes!

“I must admit when we concede a goal now, we don’t really panic, because we’re very good at the top end of the pitch.

“Even when we lost 8-0 at Frome, I didn’t think we were out of it at 4-0 down.”

North Leigh entertain struggling Clevedon Town tomorrow.

And Gee confesses that while the entertainment is there for the supporters, he would prefer something more straightforward.

“I guess I’d prefer a few boring 5-0 wins. As long as we can get a clean sheet,” he said.

Gee reckons he knows why they concede so many goals.

“Because we have so many attacking players,” he said. “Andy Caton is a good example.

“He’s a striker by trade, but we’ve been playing him at left-back.

“They’re also a young bunch of lads and so it’s up to us to put a harness on them at times.

“They are maturing in every game though, and the spirit is fantastic.

“They just never know when they’re beaten.

“I think I’ve got a few grey streaks in my hair now though.

“We’ve set the team up to be attacking, and when you’re playing two or three times a week, we don’t get many chances to work on things in training.

“I think people that haven’t been to see us for a while would be surprised at the entertainment we provide. It’s not bad for seven quid!”

Meanwhile, Matty Taylor is just a goal off the pace for the Division 1 South & West golden boot after another hat-trick in midweek.

And Gee is delighted to have him in the team.

“He’s a great finisher,” he said. “He trains hard and is as passionate as ever.

“His goals are one of the reasons we’re still in there.

“We’re still trying to make the play-offs. All we can do is keep on winning.”

Joe Burnell misses tomorrow’s game as he is on his stag weekend, but Ben Reardon returns from holiday and keeper Jon Beames has signed from Abingdon United.

Richie Bourne’s side will have their work cut out to end a run of three straight league defeats when they entertain table-toppers AFC Totton.

The Hampshire side are 11 points clear at the summit, and racked up their 100th goal of the season in their 4-1 win over Cinderford last weekend.

TOMORROW'S SQUADS

North Leigh (v Clevedon Tn, home): from Lonsdale, Beames, Elkins, Hole, Huxley, Caton, Hopkins, Futcher, Clarke, Bowles, Sanders, Reardon, Dutton-Black, Taylor, Saunders, Thorne.

Abingdon Utd (v AFC Totton, home): from Foster, McCready, Allaway, Carnell, Halliday, Orgad, Austin, Melledew, Lewis, Griffin, Parfitt, Wimble, Romeo.