Match Preview

LEISTON v STRATFORD TOWN - MATCH PREVIEW

Match Information
Saturday 23rd December
Leiston v Stratford Town
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) both open from midday, with the members bar.

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

Car Parking in the main club.

Match Sponsors: - Alan Godbold Properties.

Game 19/42.

Leiston welcome Stratford Town to Suffolk on Saturday in league action.

11 points from their last 5 league games has lifted Leiston up to 14th. Three good away performances which has seen Leiston pick up 7 points has seen a much improved Blues at the back and also going forward.

Stratford Town are currently just outside the play-offs with 36 points from 22 league games. In August, Leiston won 4-3 in an exciting game. Goals from Eddie Jackson, Ross Crane and a brace from Jamar Loza helped Leiston to a good win that day.

The sides first met at Leiston in March 2019 on a Tuesday night, with Matt Blake scoring to put Leiston ahead but Stratford got two goals either side of the break to win 2-1. Leiston drew 1-1 when the sides next met in March 2022 while the sides drew 1-1 at Victory Road last season, with the Midlands club levelling on 93 minutes.

FORM GUIDE: -

LEISTON: - DWWWD

STRATFORD TOWN: - WDWLD.

Blues midfielder Joe Marsden said ahead of Saturday’s game: -

“It’s been a good month for the boys. We have had some tough away games recently where we’ve picked up some really good results but also performed to the levels we know we’re capable of. That is obviously very pleasing and hopefully we can take this form into the weekend and the new year and hopefully give our fans something to cheer about again. Obviously from a personal perspective to start the last couple games and perform well has been really pleasing. It’s always hard not playing but the most important thing is the squad and making sure we’re all pulling in the right direction to pick up results. So long may it continue.”

Sam Donkin and George Quantrell will pick up their 150th and 100th club appearance awards tomorrow afternoon.

Sam has been with the club since November 2019 while George was with the Blues between 2021 and 2023 before joining Braintree Town at the start of this campaign but the player came back in October.

Matches in the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier this weekend: -

AFC Sudbury v Nuneaton Borough
AFC Telford United v Barwell
Alvechurch v Needham Market
Coalville Town v Royston Town
Hitchin Town v Mickleover
Kettering Town v Redditch United
Leamington v St Ives Town
LEISTON v STRATFORD TOWN
Long Eaton v Halesowen Town
Stamford v Bromsgrove Sporting
Stourbridge v Berkhamsted.

Leiston U23’s are in away action this evening at Wivenhoe Town. (7.45pm kick off).

Wivenhoe Town are 12th in the division at present with 28 points from 22 games. The U23’s have moved out of the relegation zone after beating Holbeach United 2-1 last weekend. Ollie Griggs was on target with two goals.

Games in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North on Saturday: -

Cornard United v FC Peterborough
Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers v Harwich & Parkeston
Framlingham Town v Whitton United
Great Yarmouth Town v Swaffham Town
Holbeach United v AFC Sudbury Reserves
Needham Market U23’s v Whittlesey Athletic
Norwich CBS v FC Parson Drove.