Blues 5 Ipswich Wanderers 1

The Blues reached their fifth successive Suffolk FA Premier Cup Semi Final after a comprehensive victory over Ipswich Wanderers. All the damage was done in the first half with the Blues scoring an amazing five goals in a 26 minute spell. Manager Richard Wilkins rang the changes after Saturday’s defeat to Met Police some enforced, some to freshen up the squad as he made five changes. Wanderers included ex Blues Mark Goldfinch and Stuart Wardley in their squad and would have no doubt had one eye on their important FA Vase fixture on Saturday. The Blues started very strongly and once ahead there was no looking back but nobody expected what was to follow when Tom Winter tapped home after Bradbrook had denied Jake Taylor’s header from a Joe Francis centre. The early blistering start from the hosts was being instigated by Joe Francis and another fine run and cross picked out Tom Winter who on this occasion fired over the top. So it was no surprise when the Blues doubled their lead with Francis again involved. Racing onto a fine pass from Jake Taylor he unselfishly squared to Christy Finch to simply roll the ball into the empty net. Incredibly on 22 minutes it was three and yet again that man Joe Francis was the creator, cleverly skipping around challenges before squeezing a pass through for Jake Taylor to net his first Leiston goal. The pressure from Leiston was relentless and Christy Finch grabbed the fourth goal on 34th minute, a close range finish after a neat pass from Jake Taylor, Finch moving into double figures for the season with his tenth goal of the season. Two minutes later it was five, Joe Jefford bundling home Gareth Heath’s corner. Star of the first half Joe Francis, was denied a deserved goal before the interval from a smart save from Bradbrook.

HT – Blues 5 Ipswich Wanderers 0

The second period began with the Blues still on the offensive with Christy Finch close to grabbing his hatrick after good work from fellow striker Jake Taylor. Taylor, who was having a good game upfront with Christy Finch, then tee’d up Gareth Heath but he fired wide from inside the box. The visitors, missing former Blues skipper and favourite David Head through injury but he was watching from the side lines, improved after the break and on 53 minutes they pulled a goal back. Alex Rossis was forced into his first meaningful save of the evening to deny Craig Jennings at the expense of a corner and from it the ball fell kindly to Jack Severy whose shot through a sea of legs found the net. Suddenly Wanderers began to exert some pressure and Jennings saw an effort flash narrowly wide. Just before the hour mark the hard working Christy Finch and Joe Francis were replaced by Billy Clark and Lloyd Clarke and both were soon into the action. Kelsey Trotter forced Bradbrook into a neat save before some fine trickery down the right flank from Lloyd Clarke set up Tom Winter but he fired wide. Late in the game Bradbrook made a fine, high flying save to claw out Billy Clark’s well hit free kick as the Blues sought a sixth goal. But this proved to be the last of the action as the hosts recorded one of their best wins of the season to book a Semi Final tie against fellow Ryman Premier Division Needham Market.

FT – Blues 5 Ipswich Wanderers 1

Blues - Rossis, Ottley-Gooch, Brothers, Trotter, Jefford, Bullard, Winter (Cunningham 81 mins), Heath, Taylor, Finch (Clark 59 mins), Francis (Clarke 59 mins).

Ipswich Wanderers - Bradbrook, Tredray, Corrick, Duzgun, Hitching (Myhill 45 mins), Goldfinch, Severy (Mackenzie 69 mins), Holland, Jennings, Bradlaugh, B Deacon (Ellis 45 mins). Subs not used – Wardley and C Deacon.

Man of the Match – Joe Francis

Attendance - 125