Brightlingsea Regent 0 Blues 1

Leiston visited Brightlingsea Regent on the back of an opening day win. Regent had drawn in their first match away to Tooting and Mitcham while Blues boss Glenn Driver decided to keep an unchanged eleven after beating Dorking Wanderers Saturday. Leiston had been to Brightlingsea before, losing 6-3 in the League Cup last season and also previously when it was Brightlingsea United in there first ever season at Step 6, when Judd Chenery netted two goals in a 2-1 victory.

Straight away Matt Blake had a chance in the very first minute, however, he slid his shot wide of the post after going through one-on-one. Marcus Garnham had to be alert to tip over a shot on the edge of the box shortly after, before Matt Blake had another chance but was put off by Josh Gould who cleared for a corner. Christy Finch saw a headed 'goal' disallowed for what appeared to be a foul on a defender, before Finch again raced clear only to be thwarted by Cowler in the home goal. Leiston were asking all the questions and Robert Eagle fired wide before Leiston broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. After winning a free-kick near the by-line, Kyle Hammond sent an absolute pile driver that went over Cowler and into the keepers top left hand corner. That made it two goals for Kyle Hammond in as many games, a great start to his Leiston career. Jack Ainsley was adjudged to have fouled on the edge of the box, and received the first yellow card of the night. Five minutes before the break the hosts were forced into a change, Jake Gould replaced ex Leiston player Pip Boyland. Brightlingsea went close with an overhead kick, but Leiston were bossing the game and deservedly went in at half time leading.

HT - Brightlingsea Regent 0 Leiston 1

Brightlingsea started the second half well, but chances would be few and far between in the next forty five minutes. Chris Henderson received an early caution and Leiston started to look a little stretched in midfield at times. Connor Hogan was playing well for Regent in midfield, but the Leiston defence remained strong and firm. The home side were winning a lot of free-kicks in the Leiston half but most of these were cleared from danger. Tom Bullard was booked to become the third and final player's name in the Referee's book for the evening. Leiston made a triple change in the second half, Sam Ford for Chris Henderson, Patrick Brothers for Byron Lawrence and Joe Marsden for Matt Blake It brought a bit of relief with Cowler saving from Sam Ford and Tom Bullard having an effort cleared off the goal line. Marcus Garnham punched clear a couple of corners with Brightlingsea pressing but the hosts were wasteful with their shooting. In the final minute of the ninety, Christy Finch hit his effort agonisingly over. Regent won a corner in the fourth minute of added on time but the resultant kick went out of play in the last action of the match.

FT - Brightlingsea Regent 0 Leiston 1

Brightlingsea Regent - Cowler, Griggs, Boyland (Jake Gould 40 mins), Witherspoon, Josh Gould, Cripps, Hogan (Coyle 82 mins), Doyle, Richardson, Kelly, Condon (Hunt 70 mins). Sub not used - Fox and Love.

Blues - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar, Eagle, Ainsley, Bullard, Lawrence (Brothers 76 mins), Henderson (Ford 72 mins), Blake (Marsden 82 mins), Finch, Docherty. Subs not used - Jefford and Beckwith.

Man of the Match - Jack Ainsley

Attendance - 285