Blues 2 Great Wakering Rovers 1

Leiston progressed to the quarter finals of the Alan Turvey Trophy (Ryman League Cup) for the first time in their history after overcoming Ryman Division One North Great Wakering Rovers 2-1 writes Mark Barber. The Blues were without the suspended Patrick Brothers and injured duo of Danny Cunningham and Stuart Boardley but were still able to field a strong looking starting line up. The first five minutes of the game saw the home side start well with some good passing and high pressing, not allowing Rovers any time on the ball. Joe Francis in particular was eager to get the ball and look to run at his defender in his now trademark style. The first real chance came on 10 minutes, Joe Francis anticipating a quick 1-2 from a Rovers throw and intercepting well. He played his own interchange pass with Christy Finch but his low ball across goal back towards Christy Finch wasn’t able to be turned goal-wards by the Blues front man. Just a minute later Joe Francis was once again involved. Ashlee Jones, in the home goal, launched a huge diagonal free kick and Joe Francis took it expertly first time on his chest, taking Rovers right back James Pugsley out of the game. His pull back was once again aimed at Christy Finch who this time was able to get a shot away but it was blocked and scrambled away. Leiston’s momentum was halted after a strange collision involving the Referee and Rovers winger Jacob Cleaver held up play for several minutes. This allowed the away side to regroup having ridden the Leiston storm for the first 15 minutes. Midway through the first half Christy Finch was released down the inside right channel, breaking the offside trap. He took the lob on first time having seen Rovers ‘Keeper Adam Seal well off his line but he couldn’t direct it between the posts. On 31 minutes Leiston broke quickly from a Rovers attacking free kick and Christy Finch was released wide left. This time it was his turn to cut it back towards Joe Francis whose first time side foot effort went just wide. A few well won free kicks were wasted by the away side whose best chance of the half fell to Tony Jacobs. James Pugsley made a lung bursting run down the right hand side and he was found well by Charlie Barlow. His first time cross was hooked goalwards by Jacobs but not enough to trouble Ashlee Jones. As has been Leiston’s way this season they scored their first goal just before half time. It was Tom Winter who provided the spark. His quick turn and 1-2 pass with Christy Finch released him into the area and a rash challenge sent him sprawling. A penalty was awarded and Joe Francis, seemingly the Blues first choice penalty taker now, stepped up and confidently fired the home side ahead.

HT - Blues 1 Great Wakering Rovers 0

The second half started very tentatively with very few chances to speak of. It was really out of the blue that the visitors grabbed an equaliser. An under-hit back pass by Blake Saker was intercepted by Tony Jacobs who got there before Ashlee Jones and he calmly rounded the keeper and slotted home. This visibly boasted Rovers confidence and they looked the better side for a time. Leiston struggled to create much going forward and Christy Finch was having an uncharacteristically off day. Both sides used their quota of substitutes as they looked for a winner to avoid the game going immediately to penalties to determine the winner. Blake Saker was sacrificed with Kelsey Trotter coming into midfield but it was another Leiston substitute that caught the eye most, Jake Taylor doing well on several occasions to hold the ball up and bring others into play and generally causing problems all across the Rovers back line. It was on 86 minutes that Leiston got the winner. The ball was played into Jake Taylor on the half way line and he did extremely well to hold off the close attentions of the Rovers centre half. He managed to lay the ball off sideways to Gareth Heath despite seemingly being fouled and Leiston made full use of the advantage. Gareth Heath released Christy Finch who rounded the keeper but found the angle too tight to get a shot away. He calmly dragged the ball back and played it square across the box to perfectly meet the run of Gareth Heath who calmly side-footed home past two defenders on the line. Rovers heads were down and there was little chance of another comeback after this but they can be proud of their efforts and impressed with their play at times. Leiston will now entertain Kingstonian in the Quarter Final.

FT - Blues 2 Great Wakering Rovers 1

Blues - Jones, Saker (Trotter 77 mins), Dunbar, Ottley-Gooch, Jefford, Bullard, Clark (Taylor 73 mins), Heath, Winter (Clarke 87 mins), Finch, Francis. Sub not used - Rossis

Great Wakering Rovers - Seal, Pugsley, Worrell, Sands (Regan 71 mins), Sparrow (Vaughan 68 mins), Hepburn, Barlow (Adlington 77 mins), Bradley, Jacobs, Nash, Cleaver. Sub not used - Moss

Man of the Match - Joe Francis

Attendance - 84