Blues 1 Leatherhead 2

Leiston slipped to a fifth home League defeat and with it slipped out of the play off places for the first time since September as the ten men of Leatherhead held on for victory. Richard Wilkins’ side controlled proceedings from the outset but were undone by two raids in either half by the lively front pairing of the visitors. Looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat to rivals Hendon, the home side began strongly and were rewarded on 13 minutes. From their third corner of the game Leon Ottley-Gooch saw his header cleared off the line by Richard Avery. The ball was cleared only as far as Conor Hubble whose effort struck the post with the rebound swept home by Josh Mayhew who celebrated his first start of an injury riddled season with his first Leiston goal. Two minutes later Leatherhead had their first sight of goal as Tom Bullard pulled back Kieran Hughes-Mason for his eighth booking of the season but Adam Green’s free kick was straight at Danny Gay. Leiston looked in control so it was against the run of play when the visitors levelled on 28 minutes when a long range effort from Vasilieios Karagiannis dipped and deceived Danny Gay as it soared into the right hand corner. While Leiston’s build up play was patient Leatherhead’s approach was more direct and certainly effective for them on the heavy surface.

As the spectators returned from their half time drink Leatherhead took the lead. Richard Avery’s long clearance set Kieran Hughes-Mason clear and after outpacing Tom Bullard, slid his shot beyond the advancing Danny Gay from the right hand side of the box for his eleventh goal of the season just 34 seconds in. Leiston responded well camping themselves in the visitors half. Gareth Heath flashed an effort wide from a clever Josh Mayhew lay off before the Leiston striker, who had a fine game, forced Louis Wells into a low save on the hour. But the Leatherhead custodian did better two minutes later with a stunning flying save to keep out Stuart Boardley’s 30 yard stinging half volley. Leiston then created the best move of the match on 66 minutes with Gareth Heath bursting through midfield and after a clever exchange with Josh Mayhew the Blues leading scorer saw his effort from the edge of the box fire inches wide with Wells rooted to the spot. The impetus looked to be firmly with the home side when Adam Green received a straight red card for a rash challenge on substitute Danny Cunningham on 75 minutes but despite continued pressure Leatherhead stood firm to frustrate the home side.

FT - Blues 1 Leatherhead 2

Leiston Manager Richard Wilkins – “We had enough possession throughout the game to have won comfortably. It was one way traffic until they scored totally against the run of play. We didn’t punish them enough and made some wrong decisions in the final third and their second goal gave them something to hold onto. Danny (Gay) has not had a save to make and we have lost the game. I believe we have deserved seven points from our last three games yet only have one. It was good for Tom Bullard, Joe Francis and Josh Mayhew to get some much needed minutes after injury”.

Blues – Gay, Saker, Boardley, Mitchell (Parker 81 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Ottley-Gooch (Cunningham 71 mins, Winter 76 mins), Heath, Mayhew, Hubble, Francis. Subs not used – Tann and Rossis.

Goals - Mayhew 13 mins (Leiston), Karagiannis 28 mins, Hughes-Mason 46 mins (Leatherhead)

Yellow card - Bullard (Leiston)

Red Card - Green (Leatherhead)

Man of the Match – Josh Mayhew

Attendance - 165