Blues 4 Grays Athletic 1

Leiston sit top of the fledgling Ryman Premir Division after this latest victory, their fourth in as many games. Two goals in either half saw the slick hosts produce an entertaining display on a perfect night for football on a quality surface. The hosts, buoyed by an excellent win on their travels at Dulwich Hamlet last time out, had made an excellent start to their fifth campaign at this level and would have started firm favourites against a Grays side still seeking their first win of the season. But it was the visitors who started strongly, Lheureux Menga showing tremendous pace down the Blues left flank but his inviting cross was ahead of any team mates. Attacking the Fairground End the Blues slowly gathered momentum and on 10 minutes carved open the visitors defence. Gareth Heath’s firm pass released the run of Matt Blake who reached the by-line before the perfect pull back found Joe Francis and while he hit his shot true it was straight in the midrift of Charlie Crowley. It was a warning the visitors failed to heed and two minutes later Leiston broke the deadlock. A swift move involving Gareth Heath and Ollie Brown picked out Joe Francis wide on the right and the Leiston winger’s inch perfect centre found Matt Blake who leaped to plant a header across Charlie Crowley and into the right hand corner. Leiston’s pressure intensified and Byron Lawrence and Seb Dunbar were creating havoc down the Grays right. But the visitors then responded with a fine dipping effort from Arron Wickham that only just cleared Nick Eyre’s bar. It was a warning that almost led to a second home goal, Seb Dunbar's cross squirmed under the studs of Jamie Stuart but with the goal at his mercy Matt Blake saw his effort saved by Charlie Crowley. It didn’t matter as on 34 minutes Leiston had their second goal. There looked little danger as Joe Francis picked up the ball just inside the Grays half but as the visitors defence backed off they allowed Francis to reach the edge of the box and from here he rifled a shot high into the top right hand corner. It had been a very good half for the hosts, a high intensified display with some fantastic football played. Grays resumed after the interval with more determination and just a minute in a superb finger tip save from Nick Eyre kept the Blues two goals ahead, turning Lheureux Menga's well hit shot onto the bar with the loose ball cleared to safety. Certainly the opening minutes of the half were all Grays as they pushed further into the Blues final third. But a sweeping Blues move saw the home lead extended. Byron Lawrence’s pin point 50 yard cross field pass finding Matt Blake whose instant control set him up to ease pass the challenge of Jamie Stuart before finding a composed finish from just inside the box. It was a classy goal but still Grays kept plugging away and substitute Adeyinka Cole forced Nick Eyre into a telling save after cutting inside from the edge of the Blues box. Moments later Adeyinka Cole saw a dipping effort just clear the home goal. But Leiston still remained a threat and some excellent deliveries into the Grays danger area went unpunished. Byron Lawrence saw an effort cleared off the line by Jake Hutchings on 74 minutes and then Joe Francis played Tom Winter through a static Grays defence but his dinked effort beat Charlie Crowley but also the goal as it rolled the wrong side of the post. As the game closed Christy Finch saw a bouncing side footed effort smack the Grays bar and then the lively Adeyinka Cole netted a fine consolation, beating Nick Eyre high to his right with a rasping shot from 25 yards. With almost the last kick of the game Byron Lawrence did well to get to the byline and pick out Tom Winter who cleverly side footed home the fourth. Four out of four for the Blues and a great start to the new season.

FT - Blues 4 Grays Athletic 1

Blues - Eyre, Brown, Dunbar, Ainsley (Saker 68 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Heath, Blake (Winter 75 mins), Finch, Francis (Pelling 80 mins). Subs not used - Brothers and Hastings.

Grays Athletic - Crowley, Pilbeam, O'Donnell, Osei, Hutchings, Stuart, Obasa (Mukanya Kabobola 45 mins), Wickham (Cole 35 mins), Menga, Watkins (Mensah 69 mins), Fallah. Subs not used - Sanusi and Blackwood.

Man of the Match - Matt Blake

Referee - Darrin Geary (Norwich, Norfolk)

Attendance - 210