Blues 1 VCD Athletic 2

The Blues slipped to a surprise home defeat by previously bottom of the table VCD Athletic in a match sponsored by Sizewell B Scaffolders. Following on from Saturday’s disappointing FA Cup exit the Blues were stunned with a last minute winner for the Vickers after a bright opening half an hour for the hosts. The home side have now collected just seven points from a possible eighteen available in September but still hold onto sixth spot. There were numerous changes for the home side with Scott Mitchell, Tom Winter and Leon Ottley-Gooch all starting. On a warm evening the pitch had plenty of zip and the home side certainly took advantage of this with some excellent early passing exchanges. The game was only three minutes old when the first chance was created, Patrick Brothers cleverly spinning his marker to control a Tom Winter cross but Vickers keeper Nick Blue was quickly out to save well. Five minutes later a flowing counter almost brought a goal but for an untimely slip from Tom Winter as Patrick Brothers pass had split the visitors defence, Winter slipping as he attempted to round Nick Blue. Leiston were marauding down both flanks with Patrick Brothers and Tom Winter creating problems every foray forward so it was no surprise when on 11 minutes the Blues opened the scoring. Scott Mitchell was impeded twenty five yards from goal and Stuart Boardley’s flighted free kick was met by both Tom Bullard and Nick Blue with the VCD keeper appearing to push the ball onto the Leiston centre halves head and into the net. A scruffy and bizarre goal but deserved nonetheless. Gareth Heath then fired a shot straight at Nick Blue as Leiston continued to boss but the visitors responded on 18 minutes with Michael Power seeing a header ruled out for a foul on Tom Bullard. It was a warning for Leiston and moments later a fine diagonal pass found Lewis Perkins who cut inside Blake Saker before hitting a crisp shot into the side netting. Gareth Heath flashed a header wide from a Stuart Boardley cross and then Craig Parker hooked an effort wide from the edge of the box after some more neat build up play. Slowly the visitors were starting to grow into the game and impose themselves in the home half and only a fine save from Danny Gay to deny Michael Power from a Lewis Perkins cross on 32 minutes kept the home side ahead. Whilst VCD improved the Blues began to sit deeper but the half ended with the hosts ahead.

Attacking the Estate End Leiston had the first chance of the second half on 50 minutes. Tom Winter burst clear from central midfield releasing Gareth Heath wide right whose ball across found Tom Winter who squared to Patrick Brothers via a Craig Parker dummy with Brothers effort well saved by Nick Blue via a slight deflection. Ten minutes later another crisp break ended with a well hit Craig Parker shot from the edge of the box crashing against the bar. Leiston needed that second goal but the game was evenly poised and just after the hour Karl Dent capitalised on a stray Craig Parker pass to release Lewis Perkins on the left whose early cross almost saw the stretching Michael Power connect in front of goal. The Blues made their first change with Nnamdi Nwachuku replacing Tom Winter who had a very good game but on 67 minutes yet another fine Danny Gay save kept the Blues ahead. Again it was Karl Dent the orchestrator, seizing onto Tom Bullard’s short pass and driving through the heart of the home defence before firing a well hit shot that Danny Gay turned away low to his right. VCD were now getting on top and on 75 minutes deservedly drew level. Again it was that man Karl Dent involved as a neat interchange with Michael Power saw the latter’s effort crash against the bar with substitute Leigh Bremner stooping to head home the rebound. Three minutes later Leiston introduced Michael Brothers and Joe Francis in an attempt to gain the upper hand but it was the Kent side that sensed the three points and yet another fine save from Danny Gay with five minutes remaining denied Michael Power from distance. But the lively VCD striker got his rewards for an all action display in the cruellest way for the home side, the final minute, as he drove a sweetly hit angled shot beyond Danny Gay to his right. The Referee indicated five minutes of stoppages but the Blues were unable to threaten the visitors further whose hard working display lifted them off the foot of the table.

FT – Leiston 1 VCD Athletic 2

Blues line up: Gay, Saker, Boardley (Francis 78 mins), Mitchell, Jefford, Bullard, Winter (Nwachuku 63 mins), Heath, Ottley-Gooch (M Brothers 78 mins), Parker, P Brothers. Subs not used: Merritt and Rossis.

Goals: Bullard 11 mins (Leiston),Bremner 75 mins & Power 90 mins (VCD Athletic)

Yellow cards: Tom Bullard (Leiston),Lea Dawson & Dean Carpenter (VCD Athletic)

Sizewell B Scaffolders Man of the Match: Blake Saker

Attendance: 181