Blues 3 Lewes 1

Leiston top the Ryman Premier Division table, the highest position in the clubs history. Admittedly the season is still extremely early but Richard Wilkins side have made an impressive start. In the scorching Suffolk sun they weren’t at their fluid best but had enough to see off a Lewes side still searching for their first win of the season in a match sponsored by Carlsberg. As the second half wore on it looked as though Leiston’s inability to kill off the game would be their Achilles heel but a late penalty sealed a deserved three points. The visitor’s preparations were not ideal arriving late due to traffic forcing the game to kick off twenty minutes later than planned but despite this they gave an energetic display pushing the home side all the way. After a pretty stale opening quarter of an hour that saw Ronnie Conlon fire a shot at Ashlee Jones and Joe Francis lift a shot over the Lewes bar, Leiston opened the scoring. Joe Francis stole possession off Jordan Wilson and drove forward before releasing Christy Finch whose low effort was saved by the legs of Will Godman with the ball falling to Gareth Heath who took his time before finding the net with a composed finish. The lead lasted eight minutes as the home side were caught out by a training pitch routine from a corner. Leon Redwood’s corner finding Elliot Levy on the edge of the box who had time to fire low into the Leiston net beyond the dive of the unsighted Ashlee Jones. Leiston struggled to get into their stride with Lewes working hard but the home side had the ideal opportunity to regain the lead on 29 minutes as Jordan Wilson tripped Joe Francis in the box but Gareth Heath saw his penalty comfortably saved by Will Godman. Five minutes later Jay Lovett passed up a good chance in the home box, his effort blocked when he really should have tested Ashlee Jones. It proved costly as on 38 minutes Leiston got their noses ahead again. Gareth Heath’s deep, teasing free kick into the box caused confusion allowing Joe Jefford to smash home a half volley. The home side, prompted by the excellent Danny Cunningham in midfield, started to look as though they were going to take control of the game.

HT – Blues 2 Lewes 1

Early in the second half a sweeping move from the right saw Gareth Heath cleverly flick on Blake Saker’s centre into the path of Joe Francis whose volleyed effort whistled just over the bar while moments later tremendous defending from Leon Redwood denied Christy Finch on the goal line after Danny Cunningham’s shot had beaten Will Godman in the Lewes goal. Joe Francis was beginning to dictate the play and on 55 minutes he weaved a waltzing run through the heart of the Lewes defence but his end shot was deflected inches wide. Stuart Boardley flashed a long range effort wide as Leiston tried to kill off the game. But Lewes refused to surrender and a great run from Jordan Wilson saw him skip beyond tackles in the Blues box but his shot was frantically blocked at the expense of a corner. On 63 minutes good work from Henry Muggeridge down the left saw him skip into the box and his shot deflected off Joe Jefford with Ashlee Jones making a telling stop with his foot low to his near post. Richard Wilkins then made a double substitution with Darren Mills and John Sands replacing Christy Finch and Stuart Boardley respectively. But Lewes remained on the offensive and a dangerous corner from Leon Redwood needed two attempts from Ashlee Jones to punch clear with Jay Lovett firing the loose ball high and wide. Yet another great run from Joe Francis saw him leave defenders in his wake but his effort was agonisingly wide. Billy Clark replaced the impressive Danny Cunningham on 75 minutes and moment’s later fine play from Leon Ottley-Gooch in midfield released John Sands to his left inside the area but Will Godman came to Lewes’ rescue again with a smart save with his legs. The Blues chances were now totting up and with six minutes remaining Joe Jefford connected well with a header from Gareth Heath’s free kick but Will Godman flung to his right on his goal line to keep out the effort. There was always a risk that Lewes could take advantage of the home side’s wastefulness and with four minutes remaining they almost did. Leiston felt play should have been stopped for a foul on John Sands but Lewes carried on and Henry Muggeridge’s diagonal pass from the right touchline released Nathan Crabb between Blake Saker and Joe Jefford with a run at goal. The Lewes striker hit his effort early with Ashlee Jones at full stretch to his right, he got the faintest of touches to help push the ball onto the post and to safety. Leiston breathed a sigh of relief and moments later resumed on the attack and collected their second penalty decision of the day when Joe Francis was upended in the box for a second time. This time Joe Francis took over penalty duties and neatly rolled home the spot kick to secure all the points for the Blues.

FT – Blues 3 Lewes 1

Blues - Jones, Saker, Brothers, Cunningham (Clark 75 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Boardley (Sands 64 mins), Heath, Finch (Mills 64 mins), Ottley-Gooch, Francis. Subs not used – Winter and Goodwin.

Lewes – Godman, Wilson, Redwood, Lovett, Breach, Sutherland, Muggeridge, Brown (Logan 60 mins), Crabb, Conlon (Laing 71 mins), Levy (Williams 85 mins). Subs not used – Welch and Hutchings.

Match sponsors Carlsberg Man of the Match – Danny Cunningham

Attendance – 180.