Blues 3 Met Police 0

Leiston were looking to get back to winning ways after losing to Maldon & Tiptree on penalties in the Velocity League Cup on Tuesday evening in a MATCH SPONSORED BY ALAN CRANE. Back into the squad came Byron Lawrence and Chris Henderson, while Kyle Hammond was still out injured.

In the first minute, Dominic Docherty put a ball in across goal but Luke Williams in the away goal stretched and gathered well. At the other end, Marcus Garnham had to be alert to keep out a Joe Jefford header back to him. Joe Jefford did well to block a Lewis Putman drive, and from a cross from the left soon after, Marcus Garnham somehow diverted a Jonny Wright header onto the crossbar and the ball was cleared to safety. Luke Robertson shot high and wide for the away team before Leiston tightened a grip on proceedings. After a good move down the left flank, Seb Dunbar put in a good centre but Jay Gasson cleared out for a corner. From the resultant Chris Henderson corner, Dominic Docherty's header was straight at keeper Luke Williams. Met Police in fact had a great chance to take the lead but captain Olli Robinson somehow headed wide from a corner. Leiston took the lead in the 29th minute when Seb Dunbar's excellent ball into the box evaded Christy Finch, however Matt Blake was at the back post to net the opener. Just ninety seconds later and Leiston could have doubled their lead. Joe Marsden got forward down the right to cross for Christy Finch who stabbed his effort against the post. Matt Blake turned well in the box, but could only manage to toe poke wide of Williams' right hand post. Seb Dunbar ventured up the field shortly after to deliver a pin point cross to Matt Blake but his header went over the crossbar. Although Joe Marsden hit the outside of the post, Leiston got that crucial second goal before half time. After good work by Christy Finch, he turned his man inside the box to find Matt Blake. The defender could only direct the ball to Joe Marsden who took the ball down well to calmly place into Luke Williams' top right hand corner.

Met Police made a double substitution at the start of the second half to try and get back into the match. Leiston had the first chance of the half after just a minute when after another good run from Seb Dunbar down the left, he found Christy Finch on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Joe Jefford's headed attempt from Byron Lawrence went over the crossbar. Ryan James registered Met Police's first shot in the second period but it was to no avail. Marcus Garnham collected a cross well from the right as the game became more evenly poised. Leiston created another chance when Joe Marsden passed to Dominic Docherty who in turn set up Matt Blake but he volleyed over. After a long ball by Leiston into Met Police's penalty area, Luke Williams somehow fumbled the ball and Matt Blake got past the goalkeeper but his firm cross to Christy Finch couldn't be converted into the net. A slack pass by Chris Henderson put in sub Calum Kealy but he smashed just over the home bar, issuing a warning to the hosts. Sam Gallagher had a deflected effort which Marcus Garnham in the home goal grabbed at the second attempt and then a Met Police free kick wasn't defended well by Leiston and Olli Robinson had a great chance to pull a goal back but he miscued. In the fifth minute of added on time, Joe Marsden's curling ball into the box was met by Robert Eagle who finished well from six yards to net his first Leiston goal.

FT - Blues 3 Met Police 0

Blues - Garnham, Marsden, Dunbar (Brothers 90 mins), Ainsley, Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson, Blake, Finch, Docherty (Eagle 88 mins). Subs not used - Pelling, Ford and Lay-Fulcher.

Met Police - Luke Williams, Salmon (Myers 68 mins), Bird, Robinson, Gasson, James, Collins (Kealy 45 mins), Robertson (Mummery 45 mins), Wright, Gallagher, Putman. Subs not used - Sam Williams and Tarr.

Match Sponsor ALAN CRANE Man of the match - Joe Marsden.

Attendance - 256