Blues 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0

After back to back defeats what Richard Wilkins side needed was three points in a match sponsored by Reisser Limited. It was a performance full of grit and determination with all of Wilkins men turning in a solid shift to ensure all the points remained at a freezing Victory Road. Hampton did not look like a side in fifteenth position and started strongly. Hearts were in the home fans mouths when Moone appeared to go down from a challenge inside the box from Gay in the fifth minute but the visitors leading scorer was booked for diving. Owusu then miscontrolled six yards out from a Hunt cross as Hampton made all the early running. It had been three weeks since Leiston last played at home and on that occasion Darren Mills starred in a 3-0 victory over Lewes. Eleven minutes in to this game it was Mills again who set the ball rolling with a goal of real quality. Joe Francis, starting a game for the first time since December, burst down the left and after his cross was blocked the ball sat up nicely for Mills who controlled it on his chest before arrowing a sweet left footed half volley low and true beyond the diving Smith to his left from the edge of the box. After the slow start the goal breathed fire into the hosts and following their first corner of the game, Winter’s header was met by Jefford but he couldn’t get a full connection and Smith saved at the second attempt. Heath saw a dipping effort just clear the bar before the legs of Smith denied Winter as he raced onto a clever pass from Mills. After their positive start little was seen of the Hampton attack despite plenty of possession and a lively first half ended with Brothers sending a curling effort inches wide with Smith sprawling across his goal. Hampton made a change at the interval replacing Owusu with Federico and the winger certainly increased the threat of the visitors, forcing Gay to tip over a cross-cum-shot at full stretch early in the half. But despite seeing a lot of the ball Hampton never got into telling positions and they were made to pay on 64 minutes as Leiston doubled their lead with their first meaningful attack of the half. Smith made a splendid save to his left to claw out Mills header from a Heath cross but he was powerless from the resulting corner as Cunningham’s delivery was met by a towering header from Man of the Match Joe Jefford. The visitors plight got worse on 72 minutes when they were reduced to ten men as Drage received a straight red card after bringing down Mills as he broke at pace from a Hampton corner. The dismissal took the sting out of the visitors despite Gay thwarting Moone from close range in the closing minutes, the closest they had come in the ninety minutes. By the time the game had seen out seven minute of stoppages Merritt, Mayhew and Francis all could have seen a bigger winning margin for Leiston but that was not as important as the three points.

FT - Blues 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0

Leiston – Gay, Saker, Boardley, Cunningham (Merritt 77 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Winter (Block 86 mins), Heath, Mills (Mayhew 89 mins), Brothers, Francis. Sub not used – Rossis.

Goals – Mills 11 mins & Jefford 64 mins (Leiston)

Yellow cards – Boardley, Bullard and Cunningham (Leiston), Moone & Murphy (Hampton & Richmond Borough)

Red card – Drage (Hampton & Richmond Borough)

Reisser Limited Man of the Match – Joe Jefford

Attendance - 152