Coalville Town 2-2 Leiston - Match Report

The Blues gained a point on their travels yesterday as they drew with 10 man Coalville Town. It was Leiston's first visit back to the Leicestershire club after their 1-0 defeat in the FA Vase Quarter-Final in March 2011.

The game kicked off at 1.30pm due to floodlight issues at Coalville and the home side started the game the brightest with Andrew Wright and Tom McGlinchey both going close. In the 14th minute, Coalville goalkeeper Richard Walton miscued a clearance to Kyle Hammond who saw Walton off his line and tried a 40 yard lob which went narrowly over the crossbar. However, Coalville did take the lead after 25 minutes when the Leiston defence failed to clear the ball and Tim Berridge found the bottom left hand corner, firing his shot across Marcus Garnham. Freeman should have increased the home team's lead after 31 minutes when unmarked he headed over the bar from 10 yards out. Freeman's day was to get worse two minutes later when he was sent off for pulling back Jake Reed as he broke clear of the Coalville defence. Even with ten men it was Coalville who looked the more likely to score with Garnham making a fine double save from Wright as the half time whistle approached.

The game appeared to turn in Leiston's favour in the opening five minutes of the second half as Matt Blake scored twice. The first followed good work from Reed and for the second he latched on to a great pass from Kyle Hammond. Blake broke free of the home defence once more in the 63rd minute, but on a heavy pitch he was closed down by Kalern Thomas and Richard Walton made the save. This was to prove costly as just a minute later Berridge went past two Leiston players unchallenged and his cross to the far post was met on the half volley by Luke Shaw who finished with a great strike. It was Coalville who looked the more likely to go on and get the winner with Shaw and Mitchell failing to find the target when well placed. Leiston's man of the match, Kyle Hammond, made Walton produce a fine save with five minutes remaining, and from the resulting corner Coalville managed to clear the ball after a scramble in the penalty area.

Leiston will be disappointed to have played against ten men for an hour and, having taken the lead, not to take all three points. They now host Needham Market on Boxing Day, with the visitors currently sitting in 4th position, in a 1 o'clock kick off at Victory Road.

Line-ups: -

Coalville Town: - Walton, Thomas, Fenton, Towers, Freeman, Doyle-Charles, Shaw (Dean 75 mins), Wright, Berridge, Mitchell (Creaney 75 mins), McGlinchey. Subs not used: - Burrows, Martin, Coton.

Leiston: - Garnham, Keys, Dunbar, Aitkens, Knights, Bullard, Moore (Lawrence 61 mins), Hammond, Reed (Finch 72 mins), Blake, Brothers. Subs not used: - Davies, Jefford, Beckwith.

Man of the match: - Kyle Hammond.

Attendance: - 125.