Grays Athletic 0 Blues 2

Back in September Grays Athletic inflicted a first home defeat on the Blues, producing a fantastic display, culminating in a last minute winner but in truth, they should have really won by more. On Saturday the Blues exacted revenge with goals in the final minute of each half but like that game back in September, they should have won by a greater margin. Boosted by reaching the Suffolk FA Premier Cup Final in midweek the Suffolk side knew that they had nine cup finals remaining if they were to make the end of season play offs. The cup tied Jack Ainsley returned to the heart of midfield while Leon Ottley-Gooch was still absent as the Blues dominated the first half. Leiston looked comfortable in possession but were unable to craft anything of note in the final third until midway through the opening half. Play was stopped for a high challenge on Gareth Heath from Hutchings and Jack Ainsley's quick free kick picked out Joe Jefford whose cross was almost turned into his own net by Symons. From the resulting corner Christy Finch poked a half chance wide. Ten minutes later the visitors had the ball in the net only to be thwarted by the near side Assistant's flag. It looked a very tight call with the unmarked Gareth Heath heading home after Joe Jefford had headed a Billy Clark free kick across the face of goal. The pressure from the visitors increased and home keeper Johnson made a fine save to deny Christy Finch from a hanging centre from Billy Clark. It looked only a matter of time before Leiston opened the scoring and four minutes from time leading scorer Christy Finch should have done so, having two bites of the cherry. Racing clear onto a defence splitting pass from Gareth Heath he was initially denied by the legs of Johnson but after composing himself he took his time but then uncharacteristically blazed high over the hosts goal. Fortunately it didn't prove costly as a minute before the interval Leiston finally and deservedly opened the scoring. Midway in the visitors half the impressive Gareth Heath picked up a loose ball, cleverly skipped around the challenge of Hutchings and neatly dinked the ball over the advancing Johnson. A classy goal by the Blues start performer. Two minutes after the break it should have been two with that man Gareth Heath heavily involved again. He stole possession off Richeford, strode into the box and around 1 before squaring to Christy Finch who scuffed his shot wide under pressure from Symons. Leiston were applying all the pressure with Grays unable to find any rhythm or threat to the Bleus defence. But as the Blues continued to squander chance after chance Grays pressed and with twenty minutes remaining only a fantastic close range save from Ashlee Jones denied an equaliser, Osei denied after good work from Richeford down the Blues right by-line. Suddenly the Leiston defence was under pressure for the first time in the game but the visitors were solid in repelling the home threat. Still it was Leiston, desperately needing a second goal, creating the better chances with Gareth Heath seeing an effort well saved by Johnson before firing inches wide. After the hosts Carlos blazed a shot high over Ashlee Jones bar Leiston sealed the win in the final minute. Good work in midfield saw Gareth Heath find Blake Saker whose cross into the box found its way to Jake Taylor and the Leiston substitute prodded home into the bottom right hand corner to clinch three points.

FT - Grays Athletic 0 Blues 2

Grays Athletic - Johnson, Ifil, Carlos, Symons, Hutchings, Fuller (Little 75 mins), Ekpiteta, Richeford, Osei, Jolisi (Fortnam-Tomlinson 72 mins), Davidson. Sub not used - Bentley

Blues - Jones, Saker, Dunbar, Trotter (Boardley 59 minutes), Jefford, Bullard, Ainsley, Heath, Clark (Taylor 84 mins), Finch, Brothers (Winter 71 mins). Subs not used - Francis and Rossis.

Man of the Match - Gareth Heath

Attendance - 144