Blues 0 Wingate & Finchley 1

Leiston's mini blip continues as they slipped to their fourth straight defeat against a Wingate & Finchley side who celebrated back to back victories in a match sponsored by Mrs Sue Tugwell. The winning goal arrived two minutes from time in a game looking destined for a stalemate even with Leiston playing half the game with ten men. Leiston were minus both their recognised full backs. Left back Seb Dunbar starting the first of his three game ban while Right back Blake Saker was absent through illness. Patrick Brothers slotted into the left back position with Jack Ainsley making his home debut at right back. The hosts also welcomed back Leon Ottley-Gooch but leading scorer Christy Finch was still missing through injury. A swirling, freezing wind made conditions tricky with the visitors looking the more threatening, bossing the first half corner count 5-0. With regards to shots, although their range was good their accuracy was found wanting as numerous efforts sailed high over the Blues goal. The hosts meanwhile, offered no real threat on the visitors goal with not a single effort on target in the first half as Wingate defended their box strongly. The highlight of an uninspiring first half was a tremendous save from Blues keeper Ashlee Jones, flying high across his goal to fend away a sweet strike from Ahmet Rifat. That was the only effort on target in the opening forty five minutes and as the half entered stoppage time the hosts were reduced to ten men when midfielder Danny Cunningham, who had collided with the Referee, was dismissed for something that he said to the Referee. The ten men improved after the interval forcing several early corners against the resolute Wingate & Finchley defence but always looked at risk on the counter attack and twice first half substitute Karl Oliyide was close to opening the scoring for the visitors. Leiston levelled up the corner count in the second half (6-6) and had their best chance of the game from one of them with fifteen minutes remaining. Joe Jefford meeting Gareth Heath's corner but he wasn't able to make full contact instead seeing his flicked effort sail just wide of the unguarded far post. Despite being numerically disadvantaged Leiston were well in the game, beginning to exert some pressure in the visitors final third. It looked as though Leiston might see time out for a point but for a late sting in the tail. Alex Addai, the stand out performer all afternoon, turned Leiston left back Patrick Brothers inside out before his low right wing centre was bundled home by Oliyide from close range in the 88th minute. A fine stoppage time save from Jones denied Addai a second goal for the visitors as Wingate & Finchley completed the 'double' over their Suffolk hosts.

FT - Blues 0 Wingate & Finchley 1

Blues - Jones, Ainsley, Brothers, Trotter, Jefford, Bullard, Cunningham, Heath, Winter (Taylor 78 mins), Ottley-Gooch, Clark. Subs not used - Boardley, Thurlow and Rossis.

Wingate & Finchley - Smith, Goodman, Cummings, Rifat, Weatherstone, Hewitt, Addai, Sogbanmu, Healey, Tejan-Sie (Brown 90 mins), Bartram (Oliyide 5 mins). Sub not used - Read

Match Sponsor Mrs Sue Tugwell Man of the Match - Patrick Brothers

Attendance - 152