Needham Market 2 Blues 2

Leiston had to settle for a point after a 2-2 draw with Needham Market at Bloomfields on a very wet Bank Holiday Monday writes Mark Barber. The Blues were without the ill Joe Francis for their shortest trip of the season but included Billy Clark in the starting line-up for the first time. John Sands and Seb Dunbar also came back into the team with Danny Cunningham and Leon Ottley Gooch dropping to the bench as Richard Wilkins made three changes to the team that started the game against Hendon just 48 hours earlier. Leiston started brightly, a Sands effort on two minutes forced the first corner of the game and from this Joe Jefford headed over the bar. Christy Finch, starting up front with John Sands in a more attacking 4-4-2 formation, had his first attempt on goal after five minutes. Some good Leiston passing in the middle of the field left Dunbar in space out wide left and his first time cross was flicked towards goal by Finch, forcing Needham keeper Shaun Phillips into a reactive stop. Finch was first to react to the loose ball but could only drag his shot wide of the near post. It seemed only a matter of time before Leiston broke the deadlock and this duly happened on six minutes. A Stuart Boardley free kick from the right touchline was whipped in with pace, the ball flicked towards goal was once again saved by Phillips but this time Finch made no mistake with the follow up to give the away side a deserved lead. This lead lasted just five minutes, Sam Newson forced a corner and the Blues switched off completely. A short ball was taken to Kem Izzet and he chipped the ball to the far post to find Adam Mills unmarked and he had the simple job of heading the home side level. Parity lasted only four minutes for the Marketmen as Billy Clark scored his first goal in Leiston Blue. John Sands did well midway inside the Needham half, somehow finding a way to get the ball out left to Patrick Brothers despite barely being able to stay on his feet. Brothers cross was flicked on by Finch and Sands lined himself for the volley. His miscue was blocked but fell nicely for Clark who calmly shifted the ball from his right to left and confidently passed it home to restore the visitors lead. A succession of Leiston corners followed, Bullard going close with a header and Sands being booked for handball the main results of these. As the half wore on Needham continued to grow into the game and their efforts belied their lowly position. All of their good work started through the experienced pair of Karl Duguid and Kem Izzet, although the good movement and work rate of Adam Mills and forward thinking of full back Ollie Brown also stood out. They got their just rewards five minutes before half time although it was a soft goal for Leiston to concede. A high looping head found Jones scurrying back and he could only tip it onto the bar and Adam Mills was the first and indeed only one to react to fire home his and the home sides second goal.

HT - Needham Market 2 Leiston 2

Those expecting the second half to match or better the first were sorely disappointed, especially when Needham centre half Joe Whight was shown red on 50 minutes for a professional foul, dragging Sands down after initial poor control left him trouble. Leiston, facing ten men for the second time in as many matches, would have expected to go on a take full advantage of their extra man with 40 minutes still to play. As it turned out the Blues were guilty of misplaced passes and a lack of imagination as the home side stoutly defended. Dunbar flashed a shot wide of goal and a low driven cross by Brothers nearly forced Kieran Morphew to turn the ball into his own net but this was really the best the away side could muster. Needham looked to break and counter where they could and were largely successful in easing the pressure on their defence from time to time. Richard Wilkins introduced Tom Winter and Darren Mills in place of Billy Clark and John Sands but they were unable to unlock the home defence. Credit must go to Needham for their organisation and defence in holding out for their first home point of the season. Leiston, still unbeaten through August, now sit second only on goal difference behind Saturday’s opponents Grays Athletic making for a mouth watering top of the table clash at Victory Road.

FT - Needham Market 2 Leiston 2

Attendance - 411

Needham Market - Phillips, Brown, Coakley, Morphew, Whight, Nunn, Mills, Izzet, Pelling (Dye 72 mins), Newson, Duguid: Subs not used - Smith, Bannister and Munson.

Leiston - Jones, Saker, Dunbar, Boardley (Cunningham 87 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Clark (Winter 63 mins), Heath, Finch, Sands (Mills 79 mins) Brothers. Sub not used - Ottley-Gooch and Goodwin.

Man of the Match - Seb Dunbar