Match Preview

Match Information
Leiston v Needham Market
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
3pm kick off
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, Leiston, IP16 4DQ
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Admission Prices
Adults £12
Concessions £9 (over 65’s)
Students (with ID) £7
U16’s £3
U5’s FREE

Printed Programme for £2.

Members Bar and Main Hall (Bar) open from midday.

Refreshments available throughout the day with the snack hatch also open near the club shop.

Car Parking in the main club.

Match Sponsor: - Leiston Supporters.

Game 6/42.

Leiston welcome Needham Market to the Watson & Hillhouse Stadium this afternoon (3pm kick off).

The Blues gained a valuable first away win of the season at the weekend, defeating Stratford Town 4-3 at Knights Lane.

Jamar Loza’s double (the striker is now on 5 for the campaign), Eddie Jackson and Ross Crane were all on target. The win lifted Leiston up five places to 10th, whilst Needham’s 2-0 home win against Alvechurch on Saturday meant they moved into the play-offs. It was the Marketmen’s fourth victory in all competitions on the bounce.

The Blues have defeated Needham the last ten times at Victory Road, with Needham last winning at Leiston in April 2004 in the league. That night, a win for Leiston would have seen them promoted to the Eastern Counties Premier Division. However, just four days later, a 2-1 away win at Ely City saw Carl Chenery and Blake Saker on the scoresheet to help Leiston to promotion.

Last season, Leiston won both games in the league with Joe Marsden and Ben Fowkes netting on Boxing Day in a 2-1 Blues win. On Easter Monday, Adam Mills 90th minute winner saw Leiston win 1-0.

However, Needham won both cup games, with Kevin Horlock’s team winning 3-1 in the FA Cup at Bloomfield’s before Luke Ingram’s penalty halfway through the second half gave Needham a 1-0 win against Leiston at Stowmarket Town in the Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final.

Needham did win at Leiston in March 2020, when an early goal gave the visitors a 1-0 win in the Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-final.

Leiston host St Ives Town in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying on Saturday afternoon, before visiting Mickleover on Saturday 9th September in the league. Back to back home games against St Ives on the Tuesday night and Coalville Town the next Saturday come after that, before Leiston see the month out with games at AFC Sudbury and Barwell.

Matches in the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier today: -

AFC Sudbury v Berkhamsted
AFC Telford v Halesowen Town
Alvechurch v Redditch United
Coalville Town v Barwell
Hitchin Town v Royston Town
Kettering Town v St Ives Town
Leamington v Stratford Town
LEISTON v NEEDHAM MARKET
Long Eaton v Mickleover
Stamford v Nuneaton Borough
Stourbridge v Bromsgrove Sporting
Sudbury v Berk