Blues 2 Hendon 0

Leiston extended their lead at the top of the Ryman Premier Division with a battling 2-0 victory over 10 man Hendon writes Mark Barber. It was the Blues 5th win from 6 league games which leaves them two points clear of Grays Athletic going into the Bank Holiday Monday fixtures. Leiston started the game without the services of John Sands who was ill. The away side, wearing their change strip of all red, kicked off attacking the Fairground End and started quickly. Scott Shulton, a scorer at Needham Market last week, had their first shot after a misjudged clearance from Tom Bullard. The first real chance fell to Kezie Ibe after just 5 minutes, some lovely passing involving Lee O’leary and Leon Smith found Ibe 10 yards from goal but his shot was straight at Ashlee Jones.
Christy Finch started positively for the Blues and looked to stretch the Hendon defence, getting in behind them twice early on with good runs down either flank but his crosses couldn’t pick out any meaningful targets. The game quickly took on a tetchy edge to it and Gareth Heath and Danny Cunningham both picked up yellow cards inside the first 20 minutes. Heath was involved again 5 minutes later as he opened the scoring. The ball fell to Leon Ottley-Gooch on the edge of the 18 yard box and his low driven shot was parried by Hendon keeper Joe Wright and Heath was the first to react in the throng of players to prod the ball home. Finch, a willing runner all day, had half a chance shortly after, a ball over the top found him once again on the goal side of the Hendon defence and his left footed shot was taken early but was fielded well by Wright. Leiston knew they were in a game with Hendon’s front pairing of Smith and Ibe proving a real handful for the Blues defence, but Joe Jefford and Tom Bullard were marshalling them well. Hendon came close with a free kick taken by Sam Murphy, played into a very dangerous location but somehow it found its way through to Jones without taking a decisive touch. In the 40th minute Leiston could have extended their advantage. Cunningham controlled the ball exquisitely in the centre of the field, exchanged a quick one two with Francis and then found Heath out wide left. His first time cross was met with a first time flick towards goal from the lively Finch, who had found a half a yard ahead of the defender, but his effort flashed agonisingly across goal and out. A lovely move which would have been an outstanding goal.

HT - Leiston 1 Hendon 0

Leiston made a change at half time. Leon Ottley Gooch was replaced by Seb Dunbar. Dunbar slotted in at left back, with Brothers pushed on to a left midfield role and Francis switching to the right hand side. Last season Leiston had a tendency to be sluggish after half time conceding in the first 5 minutes on several occasions. This season they look to be the complete opposite and the supporters were barely back in position when Finch found himself through one on one with Wright but his hard shot was straight at the Hendon number one who parried it away to safety. A couple of minutes after this Leiston won a free kick mid-way inside the Hendon half. Cunningham whipped the ball in with pace and Wright came a long way but was unable to collect. The ball fell to Patrick Brothers who only had the top left hand corner to aim for but he was unable to find the small space. The talking point of the game came in the 59th minute. Francis, on a trademark run down the wing, pulled down Sam Murphy who had got himself between Francis and the ball. Murphy reacted badly to this and lashed out at Francis in front of the away dug out. Referee Alan Dale booked Francis but had little choice but to send the Hendon man off. Hendon didn’t allow this to affect their passing philosophy and continued to play the ball into the feet of Ibe and Smith. Increasingly Leiston seemed happy to allow them to play and hit them quickly on the counter attack. They did this several times, Heath, Francis and Brothers all having efforts on goal as the Blues exploited the space. A triple substitution by the away side in the 74th minute did little in terms of creating more clear cut chances and Leiston made a couple of changes of their own with Darren Mills on for Finch and Billy Clark on for Cunningham, whose work effort and leadership was once again outstanding. Leiston no doubt would have been happy with the single goal victory but the gloss was added by Patrick Brothers in the 90th minute, a high hopeful cross from wide on the left sideline deceived Wright and found the top right hand corner to secure victory for the Blues. There was still time for Mills to sting the hands of Wright before the full time whistle which ensured the Blues kept their place on top of the league before Monday’s Bank Holiday derby at Needham Market.

FT - Leiston 2 Hendon 0

Attendance - 204

Match sponsors The Douglass Family Man of the Match - Blake Saker

Leiston - Jones, Saker, Brothers, Boardley, Jefford, Bullard, Ottley Gooch (Dunbar 45 mins), Heath, Finch, (Mills 80 mins), Cunningham (Clark 85 mins), Francis. Sub not used - Vincent.

Hendon - Wright, Diedhiou (Harris 74 mins), Sprague, Wharton, Tingey, Short, Murphy, O’Leary, Smith, Ibe (Sulaman 74 mins), Shulton (Bettache 74 mins). Subs not used Cass and Winter.