An emotional Steve Ball waved goodbye to the Victory Road faithful as his tenure as Leiston Manager ended as it had begun, with three points in a match sponsored by Screwbolt Fixings. Ball, who had announced 24 hours previously he was leaving for a full time coaching role at Colchester United, said a poignant farewell off the pitch while on it his side displayed what they are good at with a vastly improved display of neat passing football securing a first home League win since late August. They didn’t have it their own way though and some strong defending in either half when the visitors were on top helped secure the points. Leiston started brightly with Conor Hubble and Joe Francis prominent in the early stages. Francis fired over after racing onto Tom Bullard’s pass and then Craig Parker hooked a half volley wide as Leiston controlled the opening half for long spells. But as the game entered the final ten minutes of the half it came alive. First the visitors Stuart Green saw a fine curled effort rattle against Danny Gay’s post and then Craig Parker put a close range header wide from a Stuart Boardley cross. On 44 minutes the hosts took the lead. Joe Francis racing clear onto Stuart Boardley’s raking pass to confidently beat Chris Winterton at his near post. The half closed with Adam Tann planting a header from Conor Hubble’s cross onto the top of the bar.

Spectators had barely found their spot for the second half when the visitors equalised, 85 seconds in fact as half time substitute Omarr Lawson, on for Josh Warren, took advantage of some hesitancy between home keeper Danny Gay and defender Adam Tann from Harvey Whyte’s cross to poach the leveller. Bognor were showing more urgency and ten minutes in a fine goal line clearance from Scott Mitchell denied Don Sackman who was unmarked at the far post from a Jake Thomson cross. But Leiston responded swiftly and a superb point blank save from Chris Winterton denied a Craig Parker header before Gareth Heath got his feet in a muddle at the crucial moment as he raced onto Tom Winter’s fine cross. Gareth Heath then turned provider with a burst of pace into the box before teeing up Conor Hubble but his scuffed effort bobbled wide. Ball’s last piece of business was to bring in Colchester United loanee Conor Hubble on a month’s loan and the young midfielder played a big part in the win with some clever movement and passing throughout and it was Hubble who nudged the Blues ahead with twenty two minutes remaining. The goal came after some unselfish closing down from Gareth Heath and then Craig Parker brilliantly dispossessed Craig Robson before finding Conor Hubble wide on the right hand side of the box who drilled his effort low and true to Winterton’s right. Rather than press on Leiston became nervous and defended deeper towards their own goal. The lively Jake Thomson twice went close with snap shot efforts that fortunately flew straight at the well positioned Danny Gay. The visitor’s bench was incensed when a late penalty appeal was turned down before the win was sealed for the hosts deep into stoppage time. Debutant Josh Mayhew showed good strength down the left and set up Joe Francis who danced his way through the visitors defence before sliding beyond Winterton. There was still time for Ollie Pearce to find the net showing great improvisation to sweep home a clever back heel from Stuart Green's cross but there would be no further chance to spoil the party as Manager Steve Ball went off down the tunnel for the final time.

FT - Leiston 3 Bognor Regis Town 2

Blues – Gay, Saker (Jefford 72 mins), Boardley, Mitchell, Bullard (Mayhew 85 mins), Tann, Brothers (Winter 34 mins), Heath, Hubble, Parker, Francis. Subs not used – Merritt and Rossis.

Goals – Joe Francis 44 & 95 mins, Conor Hubble 68 mins (Leiston), Omarr Lawson 47 mins, Ollie Pearce 96 mins (Bognor Regis Town)

Yellow card – Craig Robson (Bognor Regis Town)

Screwbolt Fixings Man of the Match – Gareth Heath

Attendance – 214