Blues 3 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1

Leiston extended their lead at the top of the Ryman Premier Division to three points with their ninth League win of the season in a match sponsored by CEETECH LIMITED. For the second successive Saturday Richard Wilkins side had to come from behind and were indebted to an impressive second half display, just like the previous weekend. Talisman Gareth Heath produced a Man of the Match display with two goals and an assist as the Blues bounced back from their midweek defeat at East Thurrock United. The visitors arrived in Suffolk boasting an unbeaten away record but were second best for the majority of the opening half as the hosts took the game to their Middlesex opponents. Seb Dunbar should have done better inside the box after some good hold up play from Patrick Brothers and then John Sands met Stuart Boardley’s centre but he didn’t full connect with his volley and Seb Brown was able to smother low to his left. Hampton’s front pairing of Charlie Moone and Richard Pacquette started to look threatening but it was against the run of play when the visitors took the lead, ten minutes before the break. A long clearance from a Leiston corner set Charlie Moone racing clear on the right and he drove his shot across the face of goal with Nicke Kabamba bundling home from close range. Minutes later Leiston almost levelled but for a tremendous save from ex AFC Wimbledon keeper Seb Brown. Gareth Heath’s early ball into John Sands saw a swift strike that brought a full length save low to his right by Brown. The home side should have gone into the interval level in first half stoppage time, Gareth Heath collected Stuart Boardley’s free kick in acres of space inside the box but he dallied allowing the visiting defence time to recover.

HT - Blues 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1

It took Gareth Heath just nine minutes into the second half to atone for that missed opportunity. Seb Dunbar whipped in a teasing cross that was punched clear by Seb Brown to the far touchline. Centre half Tom Bullard retained possession, showed the full back a trick and sent in an inviting cross for Gareth Heath to head home the equaliser. Six minutes later the hosts were ahead after some comical defending. This time Gareth Heath provided the assist as he jinxed past Michael Kamara on the right and his cross looked to have been collected by Seb Brown but both he and fellow defender Tom Jelley got into each other’s way allowing Joe Francis probably the easiest finish he will get all season. Inexplicably Leiston then began to sit deeper inviting pressure as the home goal came under some tremendous pressure and at time, frantic defending was required but Leiston stoutly repelled the Hampton threat. As the game drew to a close some fine defending from Eddie Hutchinson denied Gareth Heath a third after good work from Joe Francis while at the other end, in the final minute, Ashlee Jones tipped over Moussa Diarra’s header from a Dean Sinclair cross. The home fans were agitated, baying for the final whistle but their concerns were eased and the result was sealed in the third minute of stoppages. Great determination from substitute Tom Winter saw him win back possession and slide a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Gareth Heath who emphatically drilled his shot low and true to the right of Seb Brown.

FT - Blues 3 Hampton & Richmond Borough 1

Blues – Jones, Saker, Dunbar, Boardley (Cunningham 83 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Ottley-Gooch, Heath, Francis, Sands (Winter 87 mins), Brothers. Subs not used – Baker, Finch and Rossis.

Hampton & Richmond Borough – Brown, Kamara, Jelley, Hutchinson, Diarra, Taylor, Sinclair, Casey (Newman 82 mins), Pacquette (Rose 77 mins), Moone, Kabamba. Subs not used – Hicks and Pierson.

Match Sponsors CEETEC Man of the Match - Gareth Heath

Attendance - 197