The Blues followed up their midweek win with a comprehensive victory over a Peacehaven & Telscombe side that romped to the Ryman South title last season in a match sponsored by Haven Logistics. Manager Steve Ball made an enforced change to an otherwise unchanged side that defeated AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday with Blake Saker in at right back for the injured Scott Mitchell. New signing Jack Simmons, who signed Friday, had to be content with a place on the bench. Attacking the Fairground End and with the wind in their favour the Blues started strongly forcing the visitors back. Tom Winter forced a first minute corner that saw Steve Metcalf hack Stuart Boardley’s delivery off the line. But the first telling save of the game came from Danny Gay on 6 minutes when a free kick fell to Josh Jones who connected well but Gay was equal to it down to his left. Three minutes later a razor sharp counter attack saw Gareth Heath set up Joe Francis but he fired wide after entering the box. Leiston were beginning to look lively and on 14 minutes took the lead. Leon Ottley-Gooch and Craig Parker combined just inside the visitors half and a clever touch took Parker clear and after skipping beyond El Abd he confidently beat the advancing Di Bernardo to open the scoring. It was a classy finish and nine minutes later the Blues almost doubled their lead with a fantastic break between the two boxes. Boardley cleared a Peacehaven cross into Francis who scampered down the left before supplying an early cross for the on rushing Gareth Heath who beat Di Bernardo with his shot but saw his effort bounce back off the post and into the keeper’s arms. The visitors looked comfortable in possession but found chances limited against a solid rearguard while Leiston looked very potent going forward. On 31 minutes Parker played in Leon Ottley-Gooch and with just Di Bernardo to beat the visitor’s keeper denied Ottley-Gooch a second home goal. Leiston were squandering chances and it almost proved costly on 36 minutes as James Fraser latched onto Stuart Boardley’s clearance with a well hit shot that Danny Gay was forced to block low to his left. Tom Winter saw a sizzling effort just clear the visitors bar and after Fraser wasted a half chance for Peacehaven the Blues grabbed that all important second goal. Joe Francis provided a teasing centre that was met by a towering header from Craig Parker that crashed against the Peacehaven bar with Leon Ottley-Gooch in the right place to side foot the rebound into the net. As the half time whistle sounded the scoreline reflected the home side’s dominance in the final third.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Leiston grabbed the third goal of the game. Craig Parker, who was having a fine game, cleverly skipped around two Peacehaven challenges on the edge of the box before confidently beat Di Bernardo for his fourth goal of the season. Leiston sensed more goals and after Francis scuffed a right footed effort wide Tom Winter collected Gareth Heath’s clever pass inside the box but his effort was cleared off the line by Metcalf. The home pressure told again on 68 minutes with another well crafted goal. Inevitably Craig Parker was involved as his clever back heel inside the box allowed Joe Francis to sweep home from ten yards. Five minutes later the Blues went nap. Again the build up play was impressive as substitute Cliff Akurang’s deft flick released Joe Francis down the left and his weighted pass picked out the run of Gareth Heath who fired home his fifth goal in as many games with a slide rule shot into the bottom left hand corner. Still the game remained open and with twelve minutes remaining Peacehaven substitute Charlie Pitcher smacked a shot against Danny Gay’s left hand post. Play then switched to the other end and Francis was inches wide from grabbing a sixth goal. The final whistle saw a resounding win for the home side to start a busy Bank Holiday weekend where a trip to Witham Town follows on Monday.

FT – Leiston 5 Peacehaven & Telscombe 0

Blues line up: Gay, Saker, Boardley (P Brothers 71 mins), Tann, Bullard, Jefford, Winter (M Brothers 69 mins), Heath, Ottley-Gooch (Akurang 64 mins), Parker, Francis. Subs not used: Simmons and Rossis.

Goals: Parker 14 & 47, Ottley-Gooch 43, Francis 68, Heath 73

Yellow cards: Saunders & J Jones (Peacehaven & Telscombe)

Match sponsors Haven Logistics Man of the Match: Craig Parker

Attendance: 176