Blues 2 Mildenhall Town 1

Leiston were looking for their first win in three weeks against a Mildenhall Town side enjoying their first season in the BOSTIK Division One North and looking forward to an FA Trophy tie at Lancaster City on Saturday. Patrick Brothers and Joe Marsden came in at the expense of Seb Dunbar and Kelsey Trotter for Leiston. 

The match started with a lot of play in the middle of the park with neither team creating too many chances. Leiston’s first sight of goal came when Dominic Docherty passed to Joe Marsden on the right hand side but his effort was wide of away keeper Sam Roach’s left hand post. Shortly later, Patrick Brothers’ cross from the left flank was met well by Chris Henderson but his header was gathered well by Roach. Captain Tom Bullard put a Joe Marsden delivery from a corner wide of the target from close range and then good play by Chris Henderson and Joe Marsden saw the latter find Dominic Docherty but he headed wide. The injured Tom Bullard was replaced by Seb Dunbar just after the half hour mark as Leiston continued good possession but not creating clear cut chances. The Blues then took the lead three minutes before the break when Matt Blake was adjudged to have been fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Jack Ainsley curled home low into Sam Roach’s bottom left hand corner. Matt Blake had the last effort of note of the half but he hooked his shot just wide.

Leiston had the first attempt of the second half when Dominic Docherty’s right wing ball was met well by Christy Finch but Sam Roach pushed the ball over for a corner. Matt Blake hit the foot of the post when through with just Roach to beat before youngster Aaron Smith crashed a shot against Marcus Garnham’s right hand post. Marcio Pereira had a shot blocked well by Seb Dunbar, while at the other end Joe Marsden and Christy Finch couldn’t find the target with long range efforts. From another corner, Joe Jefford fired wide when well positioned, but Mildenhall levelled after a cross wasn’t cleared leaving Dan Neto to smash in. The visitors should have taken the lead  after Marcus Garnham palmed out a shot but Neto couldn’t get a good connection on the rebound and Marcus Garnham was grateful to hold on. Jack Ainsley’s header was cleared off the line from a corner but Leiston won the game in the second minute of stoppage time when Patrick Brothers prodded home to send Leiston into the Quarter-Finals for the seventh year on the trot.

FT - Blues 2 Mildenhall Town 1

Blues - Garnham, Marsden, Brothers, Ainsley, Jefford, Bullard (Dunbar 32 mins), Lawrence, Henderson, Blake, Finch, Docherty (Trotter 67 mins). Subs not used - Gaffer, Cheetham and Lay-Fulcher. 

Mildenhall Town - Roach, Hood, Wilkinson (Delpol 69 mins), Green, Jacob Brown, Simpson, Pereira (Neto 63 mins), Smith, Call, Stillinger (Dan Brown 55 mins), Collins. Sub not used - Bull.

Man of the Match - Patrick Brothers

Attendance - 110