Leiston 2-1 Needham Market - Match Report

Leiston’s excellent home record against Needham Market continued on New Years Day as they won 2-1 against the ‘Marketmen’ thanks to goals from Byron Lawrence and Siju Odelusi, in a match sponsored by ALAN CRANE and TIM JACOBS, with TRACEY BACON from BACON’S ASSOCIATES helping donate towards the Match Ball.

Leiston made it two local derby wins on the bounce as the defeated Needham Market on a cold afternoon at the Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium. The Blues, having gained a confidence boosting win against Lowestoft Town on Boxing Day, were hit with a blow before the game as strikers John Sands and Tom Debenham were absent through illness. Manager Glen Driver decided to play central defender Siju Odelusi up front, a decision that paid off as Odelusi grabbed the winner with just ten minutes of normal time remaining.
Leiston started the match well and Siju Odelusi set up Byron Lawrence who released Rhys Henry and he forced ex Blues keeper Marcus Garnham into a great save to his right hand side. Moments later, and Odelusi’s header was going out for a goal kick but Rob Eagle kept the ball in play to cross from the left to Rhys Henry but he shot into the side netting. Joe Marsden fired wide with Needham’s first effort on goal as Needham started to come back into the match.
The hosts took the lead on 36 minutes as a Noel Aitkens through ball found an unmarked BYRON LAWRENCE who finished well into Garnham’s bottom right hand corner. Kyle Hammond received a yellow card a couple of minutes later as Needham pegged Leiston back in their half but the ‘Marketmen’ equalised a minute before the break when Callum Sturgess cross was met well by JOE MARSDEN and he headed home into Sam Donkin’s top right hand corner.

Two minutes into the second half, and Kyle Hammond intercepted Adam Mills well as he was through on goal. Sam Donkin made good saves in the home goal from Adam Mills twice while a Needham break away saw Craig Parker shoot on the edge of the box and the ball deflected wide off Byron Lawrence. From the corner, Dan Morphew headed against the crossbar before William Hunt was denied by the legs of an inspired and man of the match goalkeeping performance by Sam Donkin.
The winning goal came in the 80th minute as a ball into the Needham Market box was brilliantly turned into the net by an over head kick from SIJU ODELUSI.
Needham applied late pressure to Leiston, with players throwing themselves on the line for the Blues to block shots, and sub Luke Ingram should have levelled but somehow headed over from four yards.

Leiston now head to Coalville Town in league action on Saturday afternoon as they move up to 18th place in the table with the win.

FT: - Leiston 2-1 Needham Market.

Line-ups: -

Leiston: - Donkin, Hammond, Saunders, Aitkens (Johnson 61 mins), Clements, Hutchings, Lawrence, Scott, Henry (Keys 90+4 mins), Odelusi, Eagle (Kamanzi 81 mins). Sub not used: - Potter.

Needham Market: - Garnham, Dye, Sturgess, Short, Kieran Morphew, Dan Morphew, Marsden, Heath, Hunt, Parker (Ingram 81 mins), Mills. Subs not used: - Squire, Page, Baker, Shorten.

Match Sponsors Alan Crane and Tim Jacobs Man Of The Match: - Sam Donkin.

Attendance: - 414.