Leiston 2-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds - Match Report

Leiston suffered late heartache as AFC Rushden & Diamonds clinched a 90th minute winner to break the host hearts with minutes left, in a match sponsored by Steve Cooper, Gary Tibbenham and Ron Baldry, with Laurence Ball donating towards the Match Ball.
Manager Glen Driver started Ipswich Town youngster Zak Brown up front while John Sands was back fit but could only make due with a place on the bench.

Both sides came into the match having lost just one league game in seven, and the first half failed to get going at times due to a strong wind. Leiston saw Kyle Hammond and Zak Brown fire wide early on but it was the away side who took the lead in the 28th minute when Jake Hutchings unfortunately put a cross from the left into his own net. The Blues though started to get a foothold in the match and good persistence by Kyle Hammond set Brown away in the box and he was fouled to win a penalty, with Rob Eagle sending Ben Heath the wrong way from the spot kick. In the 43rd minute, Ollie Saunders free kick was headed on by Hutchings and Noel Aitkens headed home to put Leiston ahead.

Diamonds had more of the play in the second period and Ben Acquaye shot wide when well placed early in the half and he also hit the side netting when sent clear. Aitkens cleared a dangerous ball away from a corner as the away side put Leiston under more pressure. Acquaye hit the bar from a corner as Leiston struggled to create any real chances but were defending well in numbers. The home sides resistance was broken though on 83 minutes when Gregory Kaziboni shot home into Sam Donkin’s top left hand corner. Rushden then wasted a couple of set pieces but in the last minute of normal time, a long throw in to the area was smashed home by captain Liam Dolman to win the game at the death.
The Blues will have a chance to quickly forget about the defeat as they visit Hitchin Town on Monday evening.

FT: - Leiston 2-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Leiston Reserves lost 4-2 away to Sheringham FC at the weekend. They were two goals up very early on as Louie Bloom netted both goals but the home side came back strongly to win.

Leiston ‘A’ won 4-3 on penalties at Alde Valley Academy against Stage FC in the McDonalds Suffolk Primary Cup to reach the Quarter-Finals after the match finished 1-1 after normal time, with Max Cowan on target. In the shootout, Adam Horner, Callum Tucker, Zac Gissing and Cowan scored the winning penalty, with Harvey
Garnham saving three spot kicks.

Line-ups: -

Leiston: - Donkin, Hammond, Saunders, Odelusi, Clements, Hutchings, Lawrence, Aitkens, Brown, Debenham, Eagle (Sands 84 mins). Subs not used: - Hitter, Henry, Johnson, Potter.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds: - Heath, Casey, Brown, Ashton, Dolman, Akubuine, Acquaye (Gosnal-Tyler 86 mins), Slinn (Lorraine 71 mins), Shariff (Dove 87 mins), Kaziboni, Hicks. Sub not used: - Farrell.

Match Sponsors Steve Cooper, Gary Tibbenham and Ron Baldry’s Man Of The Match: - Jake Hutchings.

Attendance: - 275.