Leiston 0-1 Stourbridge - Match Report

Leiston went down to Stourbridge in Suffolk on Saturday, in a match sponsored by SUE TUGWELL with STEVE COULTER donating towards the Match Ball. ‘The Glassboys’ got an important victory to keep them in the play-off hunt while Leiston remain in a relegation fight but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort as the hosts put in a determined display but came up just short on the day.

Noel Aitkens was still out with a groin injury while Rob Eagle and Will Davies dropped to the bench in place of Isaac Skubich and Louie Bloom respectively.

Leiston forced a corner early on but Stourbridge cleared and Andre Landell crossed to Anthony Dwyer from the right but he put the ball over the crossbar when well placed. Byron Lawrence shot wide from a free kick for Leiston’s first effort on goal before the visitors took the lead in the 19th minute as Jordan Williams headed home a free kick into Sam Donkin’s bottom left hand corner. John Sands had an effort blocked and volleyed over from a cross as Leiston looked to get back in the game. Sands was in on goal after Stourbridge failed to clear a long ball but miscued well wide while the away side tested Sam Donkin via Chay Tilt before Bradley Birch could have doubled the visitors lead on the stroke of half time but Donkin got down to his left to save.

In the second period, clear cut chances were hard to come by. Donkin made a good save halfway through the half while Jake Hutchings headed wide for Leiston from Byron Lawrence’s cross. Zak Brown’s cross from the right was nearly turned into his own goal by Jamie Willets. The home side put balls into the area as six minutes of added on time was played but Stourbridge held out to take the points back to the West Midlands. The result leaves Leiston fourth from bottom still but results went the Blues way as St Ives Town, Alvechurch and Redditch United all lost.

FT: - Leiston 0-1 Stourbridge.

The Blues now visit St Ives Town next weekend in league action. St Ives sit once place below Leiston in 20th place and are six points behind Leiston at present.

Leiston Reserves went down in Norfolk to Fakenham Town 2-0 as the home side netted goals through Jack Robinson and Callum Brain but there was good news from Alde Valley Academy as Leiston ‘A’ won 2-1 against Bourne Vale Reserves with Callum Tucker on target while an own goal was scored by Bourne Vale also as the side got another three league points.

Line-ups: -

Leiston side: - Donkin, Hammond, Saunders, Scott (Hitter 65 mins), Odelusi, Hutchings, Lawrence, Skubich, Bloom (Henry 56 mins), Sands, Brown (Davies 83 mins). Subs not used: - Keys, Eagle.

Stourbridge: - Price, Tonks, Carter, Hayward (Turton 56 mins), Williams, Willets, Tilt, Birch, Dwyer (Andre Brown 45 mins), Landell (Ezewele 85 mins), Jordan Brown. Subs not used: - Grocott, Kirkpatrick.

Match Sponsor Sue Tugwell’s Man Of The Match: - Siju Odelusi.

Attendance: - 255.