Match Preview

POTTERS BAR TOWN v LEISTON - MATCH PREVIEW

Match Information
Saturday 28th October
Potters Bar Town v Leiston
Isuzu FA Trophy First Round
3pm kick off
The Walk, Potters Bar, EN6 1QN
Tel: - 01707 654833.

Leiston head to Potters Bar Town tomorrow in the First Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy, trying to make the Second Round for the third season on the bounce in the competition.

The Blues, who played well for 70 minutes against Kettering Town on Tuesday night, will be disappointed to have lost 2-0 in midweek but they have a chance to certainly bounce back tomorrow.

The sides first met in December 2011, at Potters Bar Town, with Leiston winning 3-1. On the last day of that season (1st May 2012) the Blues won (a game they had to win) to pip Enfield Town to the title after losing to Enfield in the last minute a week earlier. Goals from Danny Smy, Joe Jefford (2) and an eight minute hat-trick by Leon Ottley-Gooch saw Leiston to a 6-0 win.

In the last round, Leiston beat Hornchurch on penalties 9-8 after Joseph Chidyausiku’s equaliser made it 1-1 after ninety minutes. Potters Bar Town had a 4-1 win against Berkhamsted in Third Round Qualifying.

Blues midfielder Joseph Marsden said on Thursday evening: -

“I thought we were unfortunate the other night against Kettering. I thought we played very well and created some very good chances. Unfortunately we couldn’t take them and they punished a couple of lapses in concentration in our own box. Obviously Rossi getting injured and us going down to 10 men made things even harder and we hope Rossi makes a speedy recovery first and foremost. But injuries is something we’ve had to deal with all season. Albie went off injured Tuesday as well so it’s been a tough time for us as of late. But one thing it has done is shown the team spirit and togetherness we have in the squad. Lads have been playing out of position, young lads have made debuts and everyone has put in real hard effort and given their all. We saw this in the two penalty wins recently. We are up against it squad wise but showed great character to take the game to penalties and ultimately win them. It’s been difficult but we’ll keep working hard, sticking together and I’m sure our fortunes will turn round as a result. Saturday will be another tough game. A team at the same level but a different league so we don’t know loads about them but I’m sure it will be a good test. As long as we work hard for each other and show composure in both boxes, I’m sure we can put in a good performance and come home with the result we want.”

Potters Bar Town moved out the relegation zone on Tuesday night after drawing 1-1 with Cheshunt, moving up to 18th place in the league table. It could have been more but Nathaniel Orafu levelled in the 90th minute. The Hertfordshire side have 11 points from 13 games so far.

The winners of tomorrow’s tie will receive £3,000 with the losers taking home £775. The game will be decided on spot kicks if the game finishes level after 90 minutes.

Games in the Isuzu FA Trophy First Round on Saturday: -

AFC Totton v Merthyr Town
Alvechurch v Coalville Town
Billericay Town v Bury Town
Chatham Town v Cray Valley PM
City of Liverpool v Stamford
Cray Wanderers v Chesham United
Dulwich Hamlet v Lewes
FC United of Manchester v Radcliffe
Harborough Town v Avro
Haringey Borough v Redbridge
Harrow Borough v Beaconsfield Town
Hendon v Walton & Hersham
Hythe Town v Ramsgate
Larkhall Athletic v Horsham
Macclesfield v Halesowen Town
Nantwich Town v Stratford Town
North Ferriby v Matlock Town
Nuneaton Borough v Hyde United
Poole Town v Bracknell Town
POTTERS BAR TOWN v LEISTON
Redditch United v Ashton United
South Park (Reigate) v Leighton Town
St Ives Town v Marine
Stafford Rangers v Quorn
Stourbridge v Bamber Bridge
Swindon Supermarine v Basingstoke Town
Walsall Wood v Guiseley
Westfield v Hungerford Town
Worksop Town v Mickleover.

Meanwhile, the U23’s host Stanway Pegasus on Saturday in league action. The Blues went down 3-0 at Whitton United on Saturday in the team’s first league match for a month. Stanway Pegasus are currently in second place, five points off the top behind leaders Holland but the Essex side do have three games in hand. The U23’s are now 20th (out of 22 sides in the division).

Game in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North at the weekend: -

AFC Sudbury Reserves v Framlingham Town
Cornard United v Great Yarmouth Town
Haverhill Borough v Diss Town
Holbeach United v Holland
LEISTON U23’s v STANWAY PEGASUS
Needham Market U23’s v Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers
Norwich CBS v Whittlesey Athletic
Swaffham Town v FC Parson Drove
Wivenhoe Town v Haverhill Rovers.