Blues 3 Lewes 0

Depleted Leiston ended their barren League run with a clinical display against an in form Lewes side in a match sponsored by the LTAA. The South Coast side arrived in Suffolk with just one defeat in nine games but by the mid way stage of the first half that statistic looked like being two defeats in ten as the home side scored two terrific goals in a blistering start to the game. Richard Wilkins side was short of six regulars with Patrick Brothers, Danny Cunningham, Joe Francis and Josh Mayhew injured, Leon Ottley-Gooch ill and Adam Tann unavailable but Tom Bullard returned to the heart of the defence with Darren Mills and Danny Block making their first League starts of the season. Leiston started strongly and an 8th minute free kick from Gareth Heath had Rikki Banks in the Lewes saving low to his right. A minute later the Lewes stopper made an even better stop to deny the Blues leading scorer following a smart turn inside the box with his back to goal, Banks was at full length to his right to keep out Gareth Heath’s effort. But the pressure finally told on ten minutes and it was the lively Gareth Heath who thrashed home his eighteenth goal of the season. Banks sliced clearance fell to Tom Winter who found Gareth Heath who skipped into the box before unleashing an unstoppable left footed effort the rocketed into Banks top right hand corner from fifteen yards. The home side were then almost stunned into silence as Aaron Hopkinson put the ball into the Blues net at the second attempt but Referee Sannerude had blown for a foul on Danny Gay. On 20 minutes Lewes should have levelled but Aaron Hopkinson’s header from a Sam Cole cross lacked any power and drifted harmlessly into the grateful arms of Danny Gay. The miss was punished with the next Blues attack as a fine goal doubled the hosts lead. Danny Block skipped around a challenge in midfield and his excellent defence splitting pass picked out the run of Darren Mills inside Sam Cole. The Leiston wide man still had plenty to do but after leaving Cole in his trail he confidently placed his shot beyond Rikki Banks for his first Leiston goal. The visitor’s frustration increased with Dean Lovegrove the first in the Referee’s book for a foul on Tom Winter and on 25 minutes the hosts almost added a third. Danny Block collected another Banks clearance and played in Tom Winter on the left but his well hit shot found the side netting. Minutes later Craig Parker curled an effort from the edge of the box inches wide as Leiston looked threatening every attack. The visitors finally gained a foothold in the game and ended the half with some sustained possession without really troubling the home goal.

The visitors, out several minutes early for the resumption, pushed hard at the start of the second half and a series of corners had Leiston defending in numbers. Lewes had the hosts penned back for long spells with the hosts attacks breaking down all too easy but the visitors failed to test Danny Gay in the home despite getting into some threatening positions. In response Craig Parker headed over from a Darren Mills cross as Leiston looked comfortable defending their two goal advantage. With 68 minutes on the clock the third Leiston goal arrived that all but sealed the three points. Tom Winter did well wide on the left to skip beyond the challenge of Dean Lovegrove and as he raced into the box he crossed for Craig Parker to slide home the third. Leiston then comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to return to winning ways for their first home League win over Lewes and a first League win since mid November.

FT – Blues 3 Lewes 0

Blues line up – Gay, Saker, Boardley, Mitchell, Jefford, Bullard, Mills, Heath, Block (Leitao 85 mins), Parker, Winter. Subs not used – Velzian and Rossis.

Goals – Heath 10 mins, Mills 21 mins, Parker 68 mins (Leiston)

LTAA Man of the Match – Darren Mills

Attendance - 170