Blues 3 Merstham 1

Leiston are back into second spot after a solid display amidst the wind and rain at Victory Road in a match sponsored by the LFC Vice Presidents Club. The Suffolk side taking full advantage of the three clubs above them losing to move within three points of the leaders Dulwich Hamlet with two games in hand. The Blues opted to defend against the strong wind in the first half and were quickly into their stride with some neat passing and movement, adapting to the conditions well. Billy Clark twice sending in inviting crosses that had the visiting defence at sixes and sevens. With Leiston on top their early enterprise was rewarded on twenty minutes with the opening goal. The goal came via some great determination from Seb Dunbar, bursting into the box onto a Danny Cunningham pass, the left back held off the challenge of Antone Douglas before reaching the by-line and picking out Billy Clark at the far post who had time to pick his spot with a confident finish. Ashlee Jones then had to gather two long range efforts from Tom Kavanagh and Fabio Saraiva as Merstham gradually came into the game. The game was then held up for a few minutes as Blake Saker collided with Aaron Rhule as the Merstham winger tried to burst clear, Saker sufffering a nose injury and after treatment he returned supporting the number 18 jersey. As we reached the half hour mark the visitors created their best move of the game. A neat passing move found Saraiva space inside the box who released Michael Abnett in space on the right, inside the box but he sliced his effort well wide. Six minutes later the wind almost helped Merstham draw level. Simon Cooper's deep floating free kick was left by Ashlee Jones thinking it would sail over his bar but the ball rattled against the bar with Tutu Henriques denied by a good block from Leon Ottley-Gooch in the ensuing follow up. With three minutes of the half remaining the Blues doubled their lead and it came from the same location as the opener. This time it was Patrick Brothers, onto a Gareth Heath pass, showing great strength to hold off Merrick James-Lewis to reach the by-line and cross for Leon Ottley-Gooch to dive and head home into the bottom right hand corner. A minute later Yannick Makiese had to race across his line to collect a Tom Winter header from a Patrick Brothers cross as the Blues ended the half on top.

HT - Blues 2 Merstham 0

A torrential downpour at the interval delayed the start of the second half and upon the resumption, Joe Francis replaced Blake Saker meaning the Blues re-shuffling, Leon Ottley-Gooch at right back, Patrick Brothers centre midfield and Joe Francis wide left. Francis was soon in the thick of the action, running at the Merstham defence drawing a foul and then on 52 minutes creating a chance for Tom Winter. Francis' teasing centre was well defended with Gareth Heath sliding in but the loose ball fell to Tom Winter but Yannick Makiese made a stunning block to deny the Blues number nine. As the wind and rain relented the visitors came more into the game and the unmarked Dean Gunner saw his header from a Fabio Saraiva free kick skim the bar and land on the roof of the home net from twelve yards. Defending the free kick Tom Bullard was injured, instantly replaced by Christy Finch with yet another required re-shuffle. Seb Dunbar dropping into the centre half position, Tom Winter wide right, Patrick Brothers left back, Billy Clark central midfield and Christy Finch leading the line. The visitors made a double substitution before the hosts almost wrapped up the game on 70 minutes. Billy Clark's free kick picking out Gareth Heath but from inside the six yard box the Blues midfielder volleyed over the top. Five minutes later the hard working visitors had a clear sight of goal but Fabio Saraiva sliced horribly wide in front of goal after good work from Tom Kavanagh down the right. It proved costly as within a minute Leiston had a third goal. Gareth Heath finding leading scorer Christy Finch just outside the box, who shrugged off a defender and sized up the goal before drilling a 20 yard low to the left of Yannick Makiese. It was a crazy three minutes as at the end of this period Merstham pulled a goal back. Skipper Simon Cooper finding the net after his initial shot from a corner had rebounded kindly to him off the upright. But the goal couldn't stage a late fight back as the Blues comfortably saw out the remainder of the game for a second 'double' of the season.

FT - Blues 3 Merstham 1

Blues - Jones, Saker (Francis 45 mins), Dunbar, Ottley-Gooch, Jefford, Bullard (Finch 63 mins), Clark, Heath, Winter (Taylor 79 mins), Cunningham. Sub not used - Rossis.

Merstham - Makiese, Cooper, Gunner, Douglas, Henriques, James-Lewis, Abnett (Hutchings 65 mins), Kavanagh, Penny (Folkes 65 mins), Saraiva, Rhule (Caracciolo 82 mins). Subs not used - Peter and Hall.

Match sponsors LFC Vice Presidents Man of the Match - Leon Ottley-Gooch

Attendance - 160