Harrow Borough 0 Blues 5

You have to go back nearly five years to see a Leiston win at Earlsmead, well, against Harrow Borough that is, in what was our first season at step three. But the Blues tore up the script with a dominating display to score five unanswered goals and preserve a third successive clean sheet. It’s been no secret that missing key personnel has been affecting the Blues but the returning injured has coincided with a run of one defeat in six now for Glenn Driver’s charges as they move up into fourth, their highest position for nearly two months.

This game saw the return of skipper Tom Bullard and striker Matt Blake to the squad while long term injured Kyle Hammond was getting a run out for the Reserves, his first start since early September. It was skipper Tom Bullard who started the ball rolling in freezing North West London on 22 minutes, converting at the far post after Joe Marsden’s corner had been flicked on. Byron Lawrence then went close seeing an effort cleared off the line before Christy Finch added a second as a dominant opening half for the visitors closed. Home keeper Minter dithered and lost control allowing Christy Finch to dispossess him and simply roll the ball into the net for his fifth League goal of the season. The first half scoring wasn’t finished there. Seb Dunbar showed the Harrow full back Moore a clean pair of heels and crossed for Jack Ainsley to emphatically head home the Blues third.

Nine minutes into the second half that man Jack Ainsley was at it again, netting his seventh League goal of the season and again it was repeat of the third. Seb Dunbar again providing an inviting left wing cross that Jack Ainsley gleefully accepted to plant home his second of the match. It was not all plain sailing and Marcus Garnham made two excellent stops to thwart O'Connor and to keep his goal intact. But it was Leiston dictating play and Minter in the home goal made amends for his early howler with a string of smart saves including one outstanding save to deny Joe Marsden. Blues number nine Jack Ainsley missed a glorious chance to claim the match ball before substitute Kelsey Trotter rounded off the scoring in the final minute. Christy Finch was denied by Minter but Kelsey Trotter was on hand to sweep home the loose ball for his first goal of the season.

FT – Harrow Borough 0 Blues 5

Harrow Borough - Minter, Moore, Cole, Preddie, Pepera, Cumberbatch, Banya, McLeod (Stewart, 67 mins), Moss, Bryan (Davies-Coker, 67 mins), Kabba (O’Connor, 67 mins). Subs not used - Beggs.

Blues – Garnham, Marsden, Dunbar, Haynes-Brown (Knights 61 mins), Bullard (Blake 79 mins), Jefford, Lawrence, Henderson, Ainsley, Finch, Brothers (Trotter 70 mins). Subs not used – Docherty and Eagle.

Man of the Match – Byron Lawrence

Attendance - 121