Blues 0 St Ives Town 2

Leiston went down to St Ives Town in poor conditions at Victory Road , as the ‘Saints’ left with all three points. In a match sponsored by Sizewell C Nuclear New Build, with Barry Spall sponsoring the match ball, Matt Blake and Dominic Docherty were deemed fit enough to start while George Keys and Tom Bullard were suspended and Will Davies and Patrick Brothers were still injured. Ashley Nicholls and Noel Aitkens came into the starting eleven.

The Blues kicked towards the Fairground end in the first half with the aid of the wind, and Noel Aitkens had a header early on saved by Martin Conway in the St Ives goal. Christy Finch struck wide from a free kick while with St Ives’ first attack, Marcus Garnham was out quickly to gather from Jake Newman. From a dangerous Kyle Hammond corner, Conway gathered after being under pressure from Leiston players. In a defensive lapse from the Blues, Ben Seymour-Shove struck on the edge of the area but it flashed just wide of Garnham’s left hand post. Seb Dunbar’s cross from the left was met by Kyle Hammond but Conway was out well to deny him. Hammond had Leiston’s last real chance of the half but he blazed over.

Matt Blake had an early effort saved easily at the start of the second period, before Ben Seymour-Shove had a great chance to score but he was off target. A well weighted ball by Dominic Docherty released Noel Aitkens but again Conway stood up well to block the midfielders shot. Christy Finch had a great opportunity to put Leiston in the lead, but Conway palmed away his feirce strike and at the other end Newman wasted a good opening for St Ives. St Ives took the lead in the 64th minute. Ben Baker’s good run on the right ended with a good delivery into the penalty area and Jake Newman poked home past Garnham. Joe Jefford blocked Seymour-Shove’s shot moments later while Finch tried his luck again but Conway got down well to his right hand side. Ben Jackson headed over a free kick for the visitors and Kyle Hammond expertly denied Ben Baker with a great last ditch block. Both team made late changes, however it was St Ives who would finish the game off in the third minute of injury time as Seb Dunbar fouled sub Andrew Osei-Bonsu and Robert Parker stepped up to fire the ball into Garnham’s bottom right hand corner to seal the points.

Leiston host fourth placed side Stratford Town at Victory Road on Tuesday night in their next match.

FT - Blues 0 St Ives Town 2

Leiston: - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar, Nicholls (Rutterford 84 mins), Jefford, Knights, Aitkens, Eagle (Cheetham 76 mins), Blake, Docherty (Bacon 76 mins), Finch. Subs not used: - Gaffer, Sinclair.

St Ives Town: - Conway, Jackson, Coulson, Wood, Hoyte, Wilson, Seymour-Shove (Wallis 88 mins), Parker, Newman (Osei-Bonsu 88 mins), Ward (Snaith 84 mins), Baker. Sub not used: - Sundire.

Match Sponsor’s Sizewell C Nuclear New Build Man Of The Match: - Noel Aitkens.

Attendance: - 216.