Lowestoft Town 1-3 Leiston - Match Report

The Blues won 3-1 at Lowestoft Town on Boxing Day to lift themselves up to third from bottom (20th position) in the BetVictor Southern League Central Premier. Glen Driver had Andy Fennell out injured but included Luke Johnson on the bench. The win means Leiston have now won at Crown Meadow on their last three visits, after a 2-1 win on New Years Day 2019 and 2-0 victory in August 2017 respectively.

Leiston started the match well and could have taken the lead after just two minutes as Kyle Hammond pulled the ball back on the right hand side to centre to John Sands but he pulled his shot wide of Luis Tibbles right hand post. Rob Eagle’s quick free kick enabled Hammond to once again get forward and this time his deft cross clipped the top of the crossbar. Byron Lawrence’s free kick was easy for Tibbles moments later before Malachi Linton headed off target in Lowestoft’s first attempt on goal. However, against the run of play, a great piece of play by Jake Reed on the right saw the striker cross for MARCUS WILKINSON and he cleverly headed over the stranded Sam Donkin to put Lowestoft ahead. Ollie Saunders made a great last ditch tackle and nodded the ball off the line from the resultant corner as the Trawlerboys started to stamp their authority. But the Blues levelled in the 32nd minute as JOHN SANDS latched on to a ball into the penalty area and fired home past a hapless Tibbles in the home goal. Siju Odelusi’s lofted cross into the area shortly before half time was met by Kyran Clements and Tom Debenham bundled both the keeper and ball over the line with a foul correctly given. Jake Reed and Jake Hutchings went close for both sides before the interval but the scores remained level at the break.

Linton went close seconds after the break for the hosts but was denied by Sam Donkin in the Blues goal but four minutes into the second period, Leiston took the lead. A corner swung in by Rob Eagle was met by TOM DEBENHAM in the six yard box and he superbly headed home, with Debenham and the rest of the side celebrating with the away crowd. Another good set piece by Eagle was met again by Debenham on the volley but Tibbles made a superb fingertip save onto the bar and the ball was cleared to safety. Leiston were defending well in numbers when Lowestoft got forward, with Louis McIntosh curling a free kick into the hands of Sam Donkin while the same player tried his luck a minute later, with Donkin getting down to his right hand side to deny McIntosh. Byron Lawrence saw a cross nearly go in the top corner while Eagle’s cross field ball found Sands and he shot wide. Linton went close at the other end for the home side and Eagle shot straight at Tibbles as time started to tick down. In the 90th minute, John Sands needed treatment in the Leiston penalty area which halted proceedings and while Sands departed the field on 96 minutes, his replacement RHYS HENRY did well on the edge of the box to shoot past Tibbles on 98 minutes to end all hopes of a home team comeback, with the players celebrating with the away faithful behind the goal once more.

This will give Leiston renewed hope as they welcome Needham Market to Victory Road on New Years Day.

FT: - Lowestoft Town 1-3 Leiston.

Line-ups: -

Lowestoft Town: - Tibbles, Ruffles, Richardson (Deeks 74 mins), Lopez, Cole, Tann, McIntosh, Fisk, Reed, Linton (Buque 86 mins), Wilkinson. Subs not used: - Blowers, Hedge.

Leiston: - Donkin, Clements, Saunders, Aitkens, Hutchings, Odelusi, Lawrence, Eagle (Johnson 88 mins), Debenham (Davies 88 mins), Sands (Henry 90+6 mins), Hammond. Subs not used: - Hitter, Kamanzi.

Man Of The Match: - Noel Aitkens.

Attendance: - 428.