Blues 2 Enfield Town 0

Leiston moved up to seventh in the BOSTIK Premier Division table with a good performance in a 2-0 win against an improving Enfield Town at Victory Road last night. The home side brought Byron Lawrence back into the starting XI while Kelsey Trotter dropped to the bench, and Robert Eagle was welcomed back into the team but could only make do with a place on the bench. 

Enfield had the first meaningful chance of the match as Ben Ward-Cochrane found his way into the penalty area but Marcus Garnham was equal to his effort. Moments later, Enfield had another good opportunity as Mario Noto found space on the edge of the box but this time the strike was easy for Garnham to deal with. Leiston’s first attempt on goal of note came when Dominic Docherty fed Jack Ainsley down the right and his cross was met by Christy Finch but the Leiston striker’s header was cleared off the line. Dominic Docherty had to head over his own crossbar from an Enfield break away, but it was Leiston who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when away defender Dan Rumens pass back from the halfway wasn’t hard enough and Christy Finch was alert to glide into the box and smash through the legs of Joe Wright. Visiting keeper Wright then had to punch away a Patrick Brothers corner a minute later, and Byron Lawrence had a thunderous effort that Taylor McKenzie nearly put in his own net.

Enfield were unlucky not to level at the start of the second period. After a good move down the right flank, the ball was moved to Ben Ward-Cochrane who smashed against Marcus Garnham’s left hand post. Leiston doubled their lead when Joe Marsden’s run ended with a cracking strike that hit the crossbar and then crossed the line. Byron Lawrence’s free kick was pushed away by Joe Wright, and Chris Henderson couldn’t finish off Patrick Brothers through ball. Brothers had a chance himself but once again Wright made a good save. Enfield did try to put Leiston under pressure as the game came to a close, and captain Joe Jefford superbly blocked Ryan Blake’s shot. Marcus Garnham saved free kicks from Dan Rumens and Liam Hope in a nervy finale but it was Leiston who took the points in an entertaining match.

FT - Blues 2 Enfield Town 0

Blues - Garnham, Marsden, Dunbar, Brothers, Jefford, Knights, Lawrence, Henderson, Ainsley, Finch, Docherty (Eagle 76 mins). Subs not used - Gaffer, Cheetham, Trotter and Beckwith.

Enfield Town - Wright, Kyriacou, Rumens, Purse, McKenzie, Martin (Hope 57 mins), Blackman, Noto, Blake, Ward-Cochrane (Calver 79 mins), Parcell. Subs not used - Hockney, Beattie and Wales.

Man of the Match - Marcus Garnham

Attendance - 186