St Neots Town 2-0 Leiston - Match Report

Leiston were defeated on Tuesday night at St Neots Town, 2-0. Noel Aitkens was injured so Ashley Nicholls came into the starting eleven.

Below-par Leiston conceded a goal after just 110 seconds to send St Neots on their way to securing a vital three points, which they rubber-stamped with an injury-time penalty, to boost their chances of Southern League Central Premier survival.

Stuart Boardley’s side came into the game on a run of good form, drawing 1-1 at high-flying Kings Lynn on Saturday to extend their unbeaten sequence to six matches.

But they really didn’t deserve anything from their trip to Cambridgeshire, although they will have a quick chance to gain revenge when St Neots visit Victory Road this Saturday for the return league fixture.

Leiston were second best for virtually the whole of the first half, from the moment they leaked an opening goal inside the first two minutes. The Suffolk side were caught cold as Devante Stanley delivered a low cross from the right flank for the onrushing Jordan Norville-Williams to steer home from close range at the near post. It was a slick finish. St Neots had ended a dismal run of seven defeats in eight matches, by beating Royston Town 1-0 on Saturday, to clamber out of the relegation zone, and completing back-to-back wins will further boost their cause. The Saints continued to bombard the Leiston box, with a series of long throw and corners, and Stanley exploited areas of space before having a shot blocked by a defender on the quarter-hour mark. Leiston finally threatened in the 37th minute, although skipper Tom Bullard could not direct his header on target. His header at the far post from a corner drifted wide. Garnham came to his side’s rescue with an important save, in first-half stoppage time, smothering Dylan Williams’ shot at his feet to ensure that Leiston were only 1-0 down at the break.

Leiston did improve in the second half, without having much joy in front of goal, although defender Harry Knights headed narrowly over the bar on 71 minutes. Substitute Joe Jefford volleyed wide from a free-kick routine, but this was not to be Leiston’s night, and that was summed up in the second minute of injury-time when a handball offence allowed Dylan Williams to double the lead from the penalty spot.

FT: - St Neots Town 2-0 Blues.

Leiston host St Neots on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways.

St Neots Town: - Iron, Sinclair, Herd, Short, Hughes, Part, Stanley (Wharton 73 mins), Pollock, Hall, Williams, Norville-Williams. Subs not used: - Rhiney, Gomes.

Leiston:- Garnham, Keys (Jefford 45 mins), Dunbar, Nicholls (Cheetham 87 mins), Knights, Bullard, Lawrence, Hammond, Finch (Davies 72 mins), Blake, Brothers.
Subs not used: - Boardley, Beckwith.

Attendance: - 128.